Bean Complex Wildfire Fact Sheet

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.

Fire activity remains minimal as partly cloudy, dry, and windy conditions moved across the Bean Complex on Monday. The weather stations around the fire area reported rain amounts from .06-.15 inch. The weather is forecasted to be slightly dryer over the next couple of days, allowing fire activity to continue to smolder on surface and subsurface ground layers. The Incident Meteorologist, Fire Behavior Analyst, and Long-Term Analyst from Team 4 are researching climate history and trends and discussing this information with several local fire and weather experts as well as researchers to determine the likelihood of a return to dry conditions and increase in fire activity. Holdover hot spots and pockets of heat are the main concerns which could influence future fire activity if a warm and dry trend develops. Firefighters completed suppression actions on the Elephant (#561) and Cosna Bluff (#564) fires on Monday. The smokejumpers were all brought back to Fairbanks to rest and prepare for future fires. The hotshot crew returned to Manley Hot Springs to be reassigned to another fire on the Bean Complex.

The seven fires total 193,670 acres with 265 people assigned. Fire crews continue to be camped remotely near the larger fires as they work on fire suppression tasks and protect values at risk.

On the Tanana River Fire (#310), about 14 miles southeast of Manley Hot Springs and north of the Tanana River, firefighters patrol and monitor the spot fire areas located northwest and southwest of the Tolovana River. Firefighters continue to map remote structures to improve the database of known structures to assist with future operations. Excess equipment and supplies were hauled back to Manley Hot Springs. Crews have established protection of approximately 58 structures and four Native allotments that could be impacted by the fire. This fire is 24,751 acres in size.

On the Bitzshitini Fire (#312), about 23 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and south of the Tanana River, firefighters have completed protection measures for structures. This includes removing vegetation near structures and installing temporary sprinkler systems if necessary. Active protection can be implemented if fire weather returns to the region. The fire is unstaffed and in air patrol status. This fire is 69,359 acres in size.

On the Chitinana Fire (#315), firefighters patrol and monitor around cabins, other structures, and allotments within the fire area. This fire is south of the Tanana River about 21 miles southeast of Tanana and 24 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs. In the Mooseheart Lake area, firefighters are prepared to conduct firing operations if the fire progresses south, removing the burnable vegetation in the fire’s path to protect allotments and structures. This fire is 99,040 acres in size.

The Hutlinana Fire (#327), north of the Tanana River roughly 10 miles east of Manley Hot Springs, remains at 90% containment and 407 acres. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

The Rock Fire (#557), is located 6 miles north of Eureka and is 1 acre. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

The Elephant Fire (#561), is located 6 miles northeast of Eureka and remains 110 acres in size. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

The Cosna Bluff Fire (#564), is located 19 miles southwest of Manley Hot Springs and remains 2 acres in size. It is unstaffed and in monitor status.

For more information, contact Bean Complex at email: 2022.bean@firenet.gov; or 907-921-2454

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 19, 2022

Acres: 37,554 acres | Containment: 53% | Total personnel: 110

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: Dedicated work by firefighters has resulted in an evacuation downgrade for the Chatanika River Corridor to a level 1 (Ready) Status. The areas of heat left in the deep duff still require significant wetting rain to be fully extinguished. Back hauling of unneeded equipment is expected to be completed today. Repair work has been finished in many areas of the fire and crews will continue working to complete it.

Future updates will continue to be posted online. For any information needs please call the Joint Information Center at (907) 356-5511 or for more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry/| akfireinfo.com/

Operations:  The fire activity remains diminished with a few spots of heat in black spruce stringers, large diameter logs and in deep duff. Consistent moist weather conditions and hard work has enabled resources to achieve incident objectives. The footprint of the fire is nearly secured. Heavy equipment is repairing 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. 

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.

This will be the last update to Inciweb on the Minto Lakes Fire. For information, contact the Alaska Interagency Joint Information Center at (907)356-5511 or visit: https://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry/| akfireinfo.com/.

The fire had significant rainfall Tuesday night and showers will continue throughout Wednesday. Cool, wet weather continues to damper any heat in black spruce stringers and deep duff pockets of the fire area, interior to containment lines.

Today, heavy equipment will continue repairing the dozer line that was put in place to protect the communities east of the fire. This includes covering exposed, bare soil from dozer work with vegetation and installing water bars to prevent erosion.

Unnecessary structure protection equipment has been removed around the communities of Himilaya, Hayes Creek, along the Chatanika River. Firefighters are back hauling equipment as fire activity diminishes.

Heavy equipment and firefighters are expected to complete repair work Friday. Local firefighters will continue monitoring the fire until it is completely out, which is not expected until winter snowfall.

Whitefish Campground and Boat Launch have reopened. The White Mountain National Recreation Area is open. 

Size: 72,188 acres
Completion: 77%
Location: 6 miles west of Anderson, Alaska
Personnel: 173
Start Date: June 21, 2022
Cause: Natural, Lightning
This will be the final update from Northern Rockies Team 1. Zane Brown’s Type 3 team will assume command of the fire tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.

“We appreciate the support from communities affected by the Clear Fire. The safety of our firefighters and the public is, first and foremost, our highest priority. Your cooperation in meeting that objective was instrumental,” said Mark Goeller, Northern Rockies Team 1 Incident Commander.

Summary: Yesterday, helicopters completed the backhaul of equipment from the north portion of the fire. Patrol, mop up and equipment backhaul will continue across the east section of the fire.

The Pioneer Peak Hotshot crew will scout for opportunities to improve and extend firelines along the fire's southern edge.
Most of the resources assigned to the incident are patrolling control lines and completing the remaining fire suppression repair work on the east flank of the fire.

Creeping and smoldering fire behavior within isolated interior fuel pockets could produce visible smoke across the fire area today. Aerial and ground resources will patrol the fire for undetected hotspots.

Weather: It will be partly cloudy today with warmer temperatures reaching a high of 67F, relative humidity at 38%, mild west winds at five mph, and no chance of wetting rain. 

The Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place over the fire area. All non-mission aircraft and drones must avoid the area outlined in the TFR for the safety of aircraft supporting the Clear Fire and firefighters on the ground. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html to stay informed of any modifications to the TFR.

Sheltering & Evacuations: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330, visit denaliborough.org or follow www.facebook.com/denali.borough Fire Loss & Suppression Repair: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330 Other Fire Information: Alaska Fire Information, (907) 356-5511; akfireinfo.com, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry and www.facebook.com/BLMAFS

Size: 72,185 acres
Completion: 77%
Location: 6 miles west of Anderson, Alaska
Personnel: 293
Start Date: June 21, 2022
Cause: Natural, Lightning
Fuels: A mix of tundra, brush, hardwood, and black spruce

Summary: Monday’s wind event brought down trees across the fire area. Yesterday, crews cleared trees from roads and re-opened firefighter access routes. Fire managers flew over the fire yesterday morning and confirmed that all fire activity remained inside control lines.
 
Weather: Partly cloudy skies with temperatures reaching 63F, relative humidity 43%, southwest winds at 10 mph transitioning to westerly later in the day at 8 mph, and a 5% chance of wetting rain over the fire. A warming trend will occur over the next couple of days.

Operations: A hotshot crew will work to improve and extend fire lines along the fire's southern edge. Fire suppression repair work will continue, with attention to extinguishing heat hidden inside dozer piles. Suppression repair crews and equipment will continue work to prevent erosion and minimize suppression activity impacts on private property.

Helicopters grounded by yesterday's high winds will return today to remove equipment from areas of the fire where work is complete.
The fire will be patrolled from the air today to detect any undiscovered hot spots.

Fire managers are communicating with an incoming Type 3 organization to prepare for a transfer of command on Friday, July 29th.

A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place over the fire area. All non-mission aircraft and drones must avoid the area outlined in the TFR for the safety of aircraft supporting the Clear Fire and firefighters on the ground. Information on the TFR is posted at https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_2_6281.html.

Sheltering & Evacuations: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330, visit denaliborough.org or follow www.facebook.com/denali.borough Fire Loss & Suppression Repair: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330 Other Fire Information: Alaska Fire Information, (907) 356-5511; akfireinfo.com, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry and www.facebook.com/BLMAFS

Size: 72,171 acres                                                                                                        Location: 6 miles west of Anderson, Alaska
Completion: 66%                                                                                                        Personnel: 500
Start Date: June 21, 2022                                                                                        Cause: Natural, Lightning
Fuels: A mix of tundra, brush, hardwood, and black spruce                                    

Summary: Firefighters made good progress on the fire's north side by completing the backhaul of hoses, pumps, and other fire suppression equipment ahead of schedule. Boats on the Teklanika River have transported firefighters, equipment, and supplies on the north. With this work, the fire's northeast side is now in patrol status. Suppression repair work continues across the fire perimeter. Fire suppression repair is a series of immediate post-fire measures to repair damages caused by firefighting actions and minimize potential soil erosion.

Weather: It will be cloudy throughout the morning, becoming partly cloudy this afternoon. It will reach a high of 65F, relative humidity at 40%, and light east-southeast winds at five mph. The chance of precipitation is 0%. Expect minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping.

Operations: Firefighters cleared out several hundred trees knocked down by a microburst along the northeast fire perimeter. On the east side of the fire, suppression work has been completed and this area is in patrol status.

Firefighters have cleared good access routes along the fire's southern side through challenging terrain. This access will allow fire crews to continue fire suppression actions around structures and extend fire lines to the south. During mop up, firefighters will seek out and extinguish any heat below the surface within 100 feet of the fire’s edge. This work will continue over the next several days.

The western fire perimeter is under an aerial patrol status.

Sheltering & Evacuations: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330, visit denaliborough.org or follow www.facebook.com/denali.borough

Fire Loss & Suppression Repair: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330

 Size: 72,171 acres

Location: 6 miles west of Anderson, Alaska 
Completion: 63% Personnel: 528 
Start Date: June 21, 2022 Cause: Natural, Lightning 
Fuels: A mix of tundra, brush, hardwood, and black spruce  

Summary: An infrared flight over the fire confirmed it has not increased in size for several days. Aerial Infrared (IR) heat detection flights are still detecting scattered heat inside the fire perimeter. Firefighters are utilizing the information produced by the IR technology to locate and mop up hot spots as they reinforce fireline. Fire behavior is creeping and smoldering, with the possibility of smoke in some areas inside the fire perimeter.  

Weather: Today will bring mostly cloudy conditions with a 20% chance of light rain. Cooler temperatures will reach a high of 59F, relative humidity at 50%, and winds will be from the west at 5 mph with gusts up to 10 mph. 

Operations: Firefighters are backhauling hoselays and other equipment as their operations transition to patrolling the fireline and mopping up any hot spots that are found.  

Firefighters have completed line construction on the east side of the fire and are now patrolling this area. Fire crews are shifting focus to fire suppression repair work to minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities. 

Firefighters continue to mop up and reinforce firelines along the southeast perimeter and assess the area for fire suppression repair work. Firefighters working on the main southern perimeter will improve both fireline and structure point protection around homes in that area.   

Fire crews completed work on the areas of concern on the west perimeter of the fire, and this area is now in aerial patrol status. 

Sheltering & Evacuations: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330, visit denaliborough.org or follow www.facebook.com/denali.borough Fire Loss & Suppression Repair: Contact the Denali Borough at (907) 683-1330 

Other Fire Information: Alaska Fire Information, (907) 356-5511; akfireinfo.com, and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry and www.facebook.com/BLMAFS