Single Publication

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 18, 2022

Acres: 37,554 acres | Containment: 53% | Total personnel: 177

Start Date: June 21, 2022, | Cause: Lightning| Location: Located between Washington Creek and the Chatanika River Fuels: Hardwoods and hardwood litter, timber, black spruce

Highlights: The light but consistent precipitation over the fire has helped firefighters improve and maintain containment. The areas of heat left in the deep duff will require significant wetting rain to be fully extinguished. Back hauling of unneeded equipment is nearly complete. Repair work continues over all areas of the fire.

Please continue to limit unnecessary travel to areas around the fire perimeter where fire personnel are working. This includes the Murphy Dome area down to the MDR Boat Ramp and the Chatanika River. Equipment and fire fighters are working around the Hayes and Himilaya Subdivisions, please use caution in these areas.

Operations:  The fire activity remains diminished with a few spots of heat in black spruce stringer, large diameter logs and in deep duff. Due to more consistent weather conditions and hard work, resources have been able to improve the overall objectives. The incident focus is shifting to securing the footprint of the fire and maintaining the fire within it. Firefighters will continue to tactically patrol around the values at risk. Heavy equipment is beginning suppression repair of the dozer line that was put in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Structure preparation work has been completed, among the communities of Himilaya and Hayes Creek and un-needed supplies are being removed. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek assessments along the river, as well as the structure group around the Murphy Dome area have been completed and logged for later use.  Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident for the protection of both natural and cultural resources and endangered species.

Evacu ations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map. Follow the FNSB Government Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FNSBGov) for updates and notifications. Receive FNSB Emergency Alerts via text message by texting: FNSBWildFire2022 to 67283.https://tinyurl.com/MintoLakes. Follow the FNSB Government Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FNSBGov) for updates and notifications. Receive FNSB Emergency Alerts via text message by texting: FNSBWildFire2022 to 67283.