Single Publication

Rain and cool temperatures aid firefighting efforts on the McDonald Fire 

Size:  172,236 

Personnel:  103 

Start Date: June 8, 2024 

Cause:  Lightning 

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The recent cool and wet weather brought widespread rain over the McDonald Fire helping firefighters with their suppression efforts. Crews were able to use direct firefighting tactics in the 5 Mile Creek Area to secure fireline and reinforce the protection around cabins in the area. The favorable conditions also allowed mop up operations to advance. 

Crews will continue the hard work securing line and mopping up into this week as weather conditions dry but temperatures remain low. The fire has not advanced in the areas that have values at risk. Smokes may still be seen as internal pockets of fuel continue to smolder. Air quality has significantly improved with the rains. The final smoke report of the season for the Interior was issued last Friday. It expired Sunday night. 

Weather: Wetting rains continue. Smoldering is expected under the canopy and in areas that receive less precipitation. Temperatures are forecasted in the low to mid 50s.  

Burn Permits: The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection has lifted the Burn Permit Suspensions for Fairbanks, Salcha, Delta, Tok, and Railbelt areas. Small and Large Scale Permits are required. Burning is allowed today. The fire danger in these areas is MODERATE.  Please check https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn/fireareas or call the burn permit hotline for the Fairbanks Area Forestry at (907) 451-2631 for the most current updates. 

Evacuation Notices: A Level 2: SET evacuation notice is in effect for the approximately 20 cabins near the fire’s southeastern edge west of the Tanana River. The communities east of the Tanana River are in READY status, including the Johnson Road neighborhoods, Canaday, Harding Lake, Salcha, the lower Salcha River, Hollies Acres, and south to Birch Lake. Find more information and an interactive map of these areas on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Services website. 

Temporary Flight Restriction: The temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been adjusted based on public input to give float plane access to Harding Lake. Be aware helicopter operations to support the fire still continue in the area. Visit tfr.faa.gov for more information. 

-BLM- 

Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service, P.O. Box 35005, 1541 Gaffney Road, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703 

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The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression services for over 240 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska. In addition, AFS has other statewide responsibilities that include: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program; fuels management projects; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System. AFS also maintains a National Incident Support Cache with a $18.1 million inventory. The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.