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Anderson Complex crews fully engaged in protecting structures, allotments 

FIRE UPDATE: Fire crews remain fully engaged in protecting structures and allotments from the fires that make up the Anderson Complex. Over the past several days more personnel and equipment have arrived in Anderson for assignment to one of the firefighting groups established by Great Basin Team 3. The people in these groups each play a specific role in protecting life and property, and their critical needs are being met. 

The Teklanika Group includes the Midnight Sun and Lassen hotshots. The crews have been working to improve defensible space around structures and allotments by clearing brush or putting in hoses and pumps to reduce the threat posed by the Teklanika River Fire (#257). Yesterday they began the working to protect structures and allotments from the Pilot Spot Fire (#325). That work will continue today. 

Meanwhile Lassen has been tasked with finding and extinguishing spot fires in an area immediately north of the Teklanika River. They will remain in place today, continuing to reinforce the lines they have built in advance of a predicted wind event this weekend that will be addressed in the Weather section of this update.  

The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Task Force, Nulato Hills Wildland hand crew, engine crews from Kenai and McKinley, a water tender from the Anderson Fire Department, and several heavy equipment operators are part of the Anderson Group. They should finish their work today on fuel breaks around the City of Anderson. Part of that work includes a joint effort with the Clear Group, which is made up of firefighters from Clear Space Force Station. The groups are working together to complete a new fire break south of the city and north of the station. 

Firefighters assigned to the Kobe-Nenana Group, including the K River 1 hand crew and engine crews from Kobe and Nenana, are responsible for implementing structure protection tactics in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions. They are clearing brush; installing pumps, hoses and sprinklers; and working to reopen a dozer line north of the North Forties that was put in during the 2022 Clear Fire.

In the Birch Group, the Shasta Lake Hotshots are working to protect structures and allotments in the Clear Sky homestead and Rose Hip Creek area from the Birch Creek Fire (#285). Retardant dropped on the north end of the fire several days ago continued to hold on Thursday. 

Finally, the Parks Highway Group is tasked with assessing structures along the highway corridor and determining how best to protect them. The group is working from Tri-Valley to Nenana looking at options for protecting structures and the highway itself from the Birch Creek, Teklanika River and Pilot Spot fires. 

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). 

WEATHER: A Dense Smoke Advisory has been issued through noon today. Those with respiratory illnesses should stay indoors to avoid the smoke. If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/. 

Chinook winds beginning Saturday are expected to bring sustained south winds of 20 mph or more. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday and Sunday due to high temperatures, low humidity and sustained winds from the south of 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. This will set the stage for “exceptional to extreme burning conditions” over the weekend, according to 

Team 3’s fire behavior analyst. 

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 is closed today for firefighter and public safety. The closure is in place to allow fire crews to complete work on a fuel break.