Size: 3,794 acres
Containment: 100%
Date Started: July 5, 2022

State resources from Texas A&M Forest Service (TAMFS) and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) have completed mop-up and secured control lines. All TAMFS and TIFMAS resources have cleared Koonce Fire.

Koonce Fire Update
July 7, 2022 11:00 am

Size: 3500 acres
Containment: 45%
Road Closures and Evacuations: US HWY 287 now open

Dozer Crews continue to construct containment line around the fire while engine crews patrol and mop up hot spots along the lines, forward progression of the fire was stopped last night and fire activity is very low this morning. Additional resources from other Texas A&M Forest Service offices have arrived and a day shift / night shift has been established, aircraft assisted yesterday evening on the fire and have been ordered up this morning to begin assisting with mitigating hot spots with strategic drops.

US highway 287 and the railroad running parallel to it were shut down yesterday evening, but have since reopened, crews plan to continue with fire line constructions and to mitigate any hotspots as needed with high temperatures expected this afternoon. 

Sparkling Fallen Fire Update
July 6, 2022 7:00 pm

Size: 172 acres
Containment: 100%
Cause: Fireworks

Crews continued to patrol and mop up hotspots along the containment lines throughout the day, forward progression of the fire was stopped yesterday, however, due to extremely high temperatures, moderate winds and receptive fuels (vegetation) engine crews performed extensive mop up to reduce the potential of a rekindle. The Sparkling Fallen Fire is now at 100% containment and has transitioned back to the locals to monitor. 

Sunday, July 17, 2022, is the last day this Inciweb page will be updated with information for the Middle Tanana Complex. For the latest information about this complex, please visit the the Alaska Wildland Fire Information Webpage at https://akfireinfo.com/tag/middle-tanana-complex/ 

Total Acres: 60,861 - Yukon Creek (12,489), Marshall Mountain (0.3), Central Creek (6,339), Central Creek Airstrip (6,978), Porcupine Creek (12,391), South Fork (3,785), Gold Hub (16,062), California Creek (700), Gilles Creek (2,117)

Highlights:  This will be the last fire update from the Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team (Mike Almas, Incident Commander) that has managed the Middle Tanana Complex since July 6. A Type 3 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team (Josh Bransford, Incident Commander), will assume command of the complex on Monday, July 18, 2022, at 8:00 am.  

The change in acreage is due to more accurate mapping.

Operations: The structure protection mission along the Salcha river corridor is complete. Pumps, hose lays, and sprinklers will remain in place until the threat from the Yukon Creek Fire has passed. If fire activity increases, crews will return to start pumps and monitor sprinkler systems.

The Yukon wildland fire module continues monitoring and patrolling the area along Shaw Creek Road towards the Pogo Mine, ensuring the power lines and travel to and from the mine remain unaffected.

The Kaniksu wildland fire module completed its structure protection mission on the north side of the Goodpaster River corridor. They will boat and fly out today. Pumps, hose lays, and sprinklers will remain in place. If South Fork Fire activity increases, crews will return to start pumps and monitor sprinkler systems.

The Porcupine, Gilles, Marshall Mountain, and California Creek fires are in monitor status.

Evacuations:  The following locations are in READY status: The residents off the road system and recreational cabins in the Lower Salcha River, Middle Salcha River, and Upper Salcha River Zones; along the Goodpaster River from river mile 0 to river mile 33.9; from the confluence with the South Fork Goodpaster River to Seven Mile Creek; the group of cabins along the Goodpaster River at the mouth of Central Creek; Shaw Creek Road and the Pogo Mine area.

Weather:  On Saturday, the temperatures surrounding the fire area were in the mid-60s, while relative humidity remained above 50%. Variable winds were gusting around ten mph. Today, temperatures will again be in the 60's with relative humidity above 50%. Isolated showers will increase in the afternoon and evening.

Temporary Flight Restrictions:  There are no temporary flight restrictions over the fire area.

Smoke: Visit https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlook/fba6a113 for the current Smoke Outlook for Interior Alaska.

Total Acres: 57,993 - Yukon Creek (12,489), Marshall Mountain (0.3), Central Creek (4,050), Central Creek Airstrip (6,978), Porcupine Creek (12,391), South Fork (3,785), Gold Hub (16,062), California Creek (700), Gilles Creek (1.538)

Start Date: Various | Cause: Lightning

Location: Northeast of Delta Junction | Fuels: Timber, grass, understory, and brush

Highlights:  Rains across the Middle Tanana Complex have reduced activity on the fires burning in the areas of Shaw Creek, Salcha, and Goodpaster rivers. Evacuation notices are reduced to Level 1 "Ready" for all areas in the complex, including the unincorporated areas near Delta Junction. Property owners are advised to stay alert as a change in fire activity may cause a change in evacuation status.

Operations: The Spotted Bear wildland fire module has completed its structure protection mission along the Salcha River corridor. They will boat and fly out. Pumps, hose lays, and sprinklers will remain in place until the threat from the Yukon Creek Fire has passed. If fire activity increases, crews will go back in to start pumps and monitor sprinkler systems.

Along Shaw Creek Road towards the Pogo Mine, the Yukon wildland fire module continues monitoring and patrolling the area and ensuring the power lines and travel to the mine remain unaffected. They are searching for any pockets of heat and extinguishing them.

Today, the Kaniksu wildland fire module will complete its structure protection mission around cabins and buildings on the north side of the Goodpaster River corridor. Pumps, hose lays, and sprinklers will remain in place after they depart. If South Fork Fire activity increases, crews will go back in to start pumps and monitor sprinkler systems.

The Porcupine, Gilles, Marshall Mountain, and California Creek fires are in monitor status.

Evacuations:  The following locations are in READY status: The residents off the road system and recreational cabins in the Lower Salcha River, Middle Salcha River, and Upper Salcha River Zones; along the Goodpaster River from river mile 0 to river mile 8.6, and river mile 8.6 to river mile 33.9; from the confluence with the South Fork Goodpaster River to Seven Mile Creek; the group of cabins along the Goodpaster River at the mouth of Central Creek; Shaw Creek Road and the Pogo Mine area.

Weather:  A trough exiting the region today will cause the rain to decrease in the afternoon and evening with breezy conditions. Temperatures will range from the upper 50s to the lower 60s with minimum relative humidity in the 50s. Sunday will have some isolated light rain showers, with another round of rain coming Sunday night. The long-range forecast calls for below average temperatures and above average precipitation through the end of July.

Temporary Flight Restrictions:  Temporary Flight Restrictions are in place over the Gold Hub Fire. Flight restrictions are for any aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can't!

 Click on the link below to watch the Virtual Community Meeting for the Middle Tanana Complex on Friday, July 15, 2022

Total Acres: 57,993 - Yukon Creek (12,489), Marshall Mountain (0.3), Central Creek (4,050), Central Creek Airstrip (6,978), Porcupine Creek (12,391), South Fork (3,785), Gold Hub (16,062), California Creek (700), Gilles Creek (1.538)

Start Date: Various | Cause: Lightning

Location: Northeast of Delta Junction | Fuels: Timber, grass, understory, and brush

Highlights:  Rains across the Middle Tanana Complex have reduced activity on the fires burning in the areas of Shaw Creek, Salcha, and Goodpaster rivers. Evacuation notices are reduced to Level 1 "Ready" for all areas in the complex, including the unincorporated areas near Delta Junction. Property owners are advised to stay alert as a change in fire activity may cause a change in evacuation status.

A virtual public meeting will be held tonight, Friday, July 15, at 7:30 pm. It will be broadcast on the local KDHS Radio 95.5 FM and recorded and posted to the AK DNR Division of Forestry Facebook page after the meeting. The recording link will be available on the incident's InciWeb page https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8201/.

Operations: The smokejumpers came off the Salcha River yesterday. The Spotted Bear wildland fire module is continuing to monitor and improve structure protection efforts, checking pumps, hoses, and sprinkler systems along the river corridor.

Along Shaw Creek Road towards the Pogo Mine, the Yukon wildland fire module is monitoring and patrolling the area and ensuring the power lines and travel to the mine remain unaffected.

Near the South Fork Fire along the lower Goodpaster River corridor, the Kaniksu wildland fire module will continue implementing structure protection around cabins and buildings on the north side from river mile 26 to the confluence with the South Fork Goodpaster River.

The Porcupine, Gilles, Marshall Mountain, and California Creek fires are being monitored.

Evacuations:  The following locations are in READY status:  The residents off the road system and recreational cabins in the Lower Salcha River, Middle Salcha River, and Upper Salcha River Zones;  along the Goodpaster River from river mile 0 to river mile 8.6, and river mile 8.6 to river mile 33.9; from the confluence with the South Fork Goodpaster River to Seven Mile Creek; the group of cabins along the Goodpaster River at the mouth of Central Creek;  Shaw Creek Road and the Pogo Mine area.

Weather:  A trough will move across the state tonight, bringing rain back to the complex.  Rain on the fires is expected to begin this evening. Today, temperatures will be in the mid-60s and minimum relative humidity in the 30s. The extended weather forecast remains above average for moisture with below average temperatures.

Temporary Flight Restrictions:  Temporary Flight Restrictions are in place over the Gold Hub Fire. Flight restrictions are for any aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can't!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2022

Evacuation statuses reduced within the Middle Tanana Complex

(Fairbanks, AK) – Rains across the Middle Tanana Complex have reduced fire activity on the nine fires burning in the areas of Salcha, Shaw, and Goodpaster rivers. Evacuation notices are being reduced to Level 1 Ready for all areas in the complex, including the unincorporated areas near Delta Junction.

Along the Goodpaster River, these are now in place:
 
     • The Goodpaster River corridor from river mile 0 to 8.6 is remains in Level 1 “Ready” status due to the proximity of the South Fork Fire (#427).
     • The Goodpaster River corridor from river mile 8.6 to 33.9 is reduced to Level 1 “Ready” status due to the proximity of the South Fork Fire (#427).
     • The Goodpaster River corridor from the confluence with the South Fork Goodpaster River to Seven Mile Creek remains in Level 1 “Ready” status due to the proximity of the Central Creek Fire (#437) and Central Creek Airstrip Fire (#295).
     • The group of cabins along the Goodpaster River at the mouth of Central Creek are reduced to Level 1 “Ready” status due to the proximity of the Central Creek Fire (#437) and Central Creek Airstrip Fire (#295).

The Shaw Creek Road and the Pogo Mine area remain in Level 1 “Ready” status due to the proximity of the Gold Hub Fire (#455).

Level 1 Ready means “Be Ready” for potential evacuation. Prepare your belongings and monitor social media, news, and radio information.

Level 2 Set means “Be Set” to evacuate and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. This status signifies there is a significant danger in your area.

Level 3 "Go" means evacuate now, take your belongings and your pets, and leave immediately.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, in coordination with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, implemented these evacuation notices. The Type 2 Northern Rockies Incident Management Team 3 is managing the Middle Tanana Complex.

For information on the Middle Tanana Complex visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8201/ or https://akfireinfo.com/tag/middle-tanana-complex/

For more information regarding “Ready, Set, Go,” visit https://gacc.nifc.gov/gbcc/dispatch/ut?cdc/prevention/doc/ready_set_go.pdf

Contact: Sam Harrel, DOF Information Officer, (907) 356-5512, sam.harrel@alaska.gov

 Click on the link below to watch the Operational Briefing for July 9, 2022 with Planning Operations Section Chief Keith Brink.