Single Publication

Anderson Complex crews respond to new start 

Aircraft assigned to the Anderson Complex responded to a new start Wednesday afternoon. The Pilot Spot Fire (#325) is about 3 miles north of the Nenana River as it runs along the north side of the Teklanika River Fire, and 2.5 miles southeast from the confluence of the two rivers. It is estimated to be 94 acres and is burning in mixed hardwoods and spruce. The fire was spotted by a pilot assigned to the Anderson Complex. Planes dropped retardant and water on the fire to slow its spread. The cause of the fire is undetermined.    

FIRE UPDATE: The Midnight Sun Hotshots continue to protect structures and allotments from the Teklanika River Fire (#257) along the river corridor. They will also be working to protect about a dozen structures that could be threatened by the Pilot Spot Fire depending on its direction of spread. The Lassen Hotshots were expected to move to Anderson yesterday, but remained in place on the Teklanika River due to the new start and the forecast for high temperatures and increase in winds in the coming days. Lassen will continue to work on extinguishing hotspots and preparing the area for the coming weather event. 

The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Task Force, the Nulato Hills Wildland hand crew and several heavy equipment operators will continue to improve existing fuel breaks around the City of Anderson. They will also work with crews from Clear Space Force Station on a new fire break south of Anderson and north of the station. 

Firefighters backed by skidgines are continuing their work to protect structures in the North Forties subdivision. They plan to reopen a dozer line north of the subdivision that was put in during the 2022 Clear Fire. Firefighters are also identifying tactical options to keep the fire west of the Nenana River and protect infrastructure along the Parks Highway. Four water trucks assigned to this area are supporting fire engines from Kobe and Nenana and helping with dust abatement on the roads.

The Shasta Lake Hotshots remain in the area near Clear Sky homestead. They are assessing structures and allotments in the area of the Birch Creek Fire (#285) to find ways to protect them from the fire, this includes the Rose Hip Creek area. Retardant dropped on the north end of the fire several days ago is continuing to hold. 

The Anderson Complex includes the Teklanika River Fire (#257), Birch Creek Fire (#285), Pilot Spot Fire (#325), Kobe Road Fire (#297), Nenana River Fire (#288), and Nenana River Fire 2 (#289). The Teklanika River Fire is estimated at 8,346 acres. The Birch Creek Fire is 883 acres. The Kobe Road fire was contained and controlled at 0.1 acres. The Nenana River and Nenana River Fire 2 are located inside the burn scar of the 2022 Clear Fire. The two fires are a combined 0.3 acres in size with minimal activity and no growth reported. There are 211 people assigned to the Anderson Complex. 

WEATHER: Conditions will continue to be hot and dry. The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for Saturday and Sunday due to high temperatures, low humidity and high winds. The high temperature over the weekend is expected to be in the 90s with the potential for Chinook winds, bringing strong southerly winds of at least 20 mph. For black spruce, wind speeds as slow as 5 mph can easily cause extreme fire behavior in hot, dry conditions. 

EVACUATION STATUS: The Teklanika River and all residents along the Teklanika River, and all residents in Clear Sky homestead (not the Clear Sky Lodge) and residents adjacent to Rose Hip Creek are in Evacuation Status GO. Individuals in this area should evacuate now. Do not delay. The Tri-Valley School is available for evacuation parking and will be available as an evacuation center, if needed. 

The City of Anderson and all residents that use any road west of the George Parks Highway between milepost 270 and the Rex Bridge are in Evacuation Status SET. Individuals in this area should be ready in a moment’s notice. 

Visit the Denali Borough website for additional information. 

CLOSURE: The Anderson Shooting Range will be closed through Friday, Aug. 4, for firefighter and public safety. The brief closure will allow fire crews to complete work on a fuel break.