Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 16, 2022

Acres: 37,554 acres | Containment: 52% | Total personnel: 263

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: Firefighters are working hard to improve and maintain containment of the fire. Crews are continuing to mop up and back haul equipment no longer needed across all Divisions. Repair work is being done in areas where suppression efforts were successfully completed. Pockets of unburned fuels are being addressed to eliminate their threat to the current perimeter.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  With the currently received and expected precipitation across the fire the incident focus is shifting to securing the footprint of the fire and maintaining the fire within it. Helicopters and boats are being utilized to retrieve equipment no longer needed. Firefighters will continue to provide for mop up and tactically patrolling around the values at risk. Additional hand crews have been swapped in along the river. 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. Crews continue to reinforce fire line and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident for the protection of natural and cultural resources.

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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 15, 2022

Acres: 37,551 acres | Containment: 52% | Total personnel: 284

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: Drier conditions yesterday allowed crews to better identify remaining areas of heat that need attention. Hard work by firefighters and favorable weather conditions have enabled Evacuation levels to be downgraded to a level 1 “Ready” status in the Hayes and Himilaya evacuation areas. Fire Suppression Repair work is underway on the incident.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  Humidity dropped as low as 28% yesterday in some areas of the fire. Work continues securing, improving, and reinforcing protection measures around the fire. Back haul of un-needed equipment is ongoing. Firefighters will continue to provide for mop up and tactically patrolling around the values at risk. Additional hand crews have been swapped in along the river. There is a dozer line in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Much preparation work has been done, among the communities of Himilaya and Hayes Creek. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek assessments along the river have been completed. The structure protection group in the Murphy Dome area (Lincoln, Vancouver, Murphy, Martin etc.) southeast of the fire have finished assessing structures and finalized plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to reinforce fire line and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

For immediate release: July 13, 2022

Alaska Emergency Burn Closure Order Lifted

(FAIRBANKS, AK) – The State Forester for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection has rescinded the Emergency Burn Closure. The closure will end Thursday morning, July 14, 2022, at 9:00 am ADST.

The closure has been in place since July 2, as the state experienced ongoing dry conditions. Recent wide-spread rains have moderated fire activity and brought temporary relief to drought stricken areas. As of Wednesday morning, there are 264 active fires in Alaska with 17 individual fires and six complexes staffed with 1,336 personnel.

Although the Emergency Burn Closure will be lifted, local, state, Native, and/or federal agencies may continue to have local fire restrictions in place on lands under their jurisdictions. Individuals who access these lands for any lawful purpose are responsible for determining if any local restrictions are in place before setting any fires, using fireworks or burning of any wood or paper debris.

The Division of Forestry evaluates conditions daily to determine whether a Burn Permit Suspension is warranted in a specific area and posts that information on its burn permit webpage at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn/fireareas. People can click on a map on that webpage to see if there is a burn suspension in the Forestry Prevention Area in which they live. Or they can call their local Forestry Area Office’s hotline to see if burning is allowed.

Here is a list of the recorded burn hotline numbers for Division of Forestry Area offices around the state:

• Delta Junction – (907) 895-4225

• Fairbanks – (907) 451-2629

• Tok – (907) 883-1400

• Kenai/Kodiak – (907) 260-4260

• Mat-Su – (907) 761-6305

• Valdez/Copper River (907) 822-5534

• McGrath (907) 766-2120

• Haines (907) 766-2120

CONTACT: Division of Forestry Information Officer Sam Harrel, (907) 356-5512, sam.harrel@alaska.gov

 Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 14, 2022

Acres: 37,523 acres | Containment: 52% | Total personnel: 260

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: Hard work by firefighters and favorable weather conditions have enabled Evacuation levels to be downgraded to a level 1 “Ready” status in the Hayes and Himalaya evacuation areas.  Fire Suppression Repair work is beginning on the incident.

July 12th a public meeting was held at the Ken Kunkel Community Center the recording was posted on both the Alaska DNR – Division of Forestry & Fire Protection- DOF and the BLM Alaska Fire Service Facebook pages.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  Fire activity has continued to diminish overall. Work continues securing, improving, and reinforcing protection measures around the fire. Where fire activity has diminished, firefighters have also begun to back haul un-needed equipment. Firefighters will continue to provide for point protection around the fire for values at risk. Additional hand crews have been swapped in along the river. There is a dozer line in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Much preparation work has been done among the communities of Himilaya and Hayes Creek. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek assessment along the river have been completed. The structure protection group in the Murphy Dome area (Lincoln, Vancouver, Murphy, Martin etc.) southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to reinforce fire line and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 13, 2022

Acres: 37,523 acres | Containment: 52% | Total personnel: 349

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: Fire activity has significantly diminished overall because of the precipitation and increased relative humidity over the last few days. More rain is anticipated today. Heat could still hold in exceptionally dry deep duff and heavier fuels.

Yesterday a public meeting was held at the Ken Kunkel Community Center the recording was posted on both the Alaska DNR – Division of Forestry & Fire Protection- DOF and the BLM Alaska Fire Service Facebook pages.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations: Crews continue working to secure, improve and reinforce protection measures around the fire. As activity has diminished around much of the fire, they also began to back haul un-needed equipment. Firefighters will continue to provide for point protection around the fire for values at risk. As hand crews begin to time-out, additional hand crews will begin to be swapped in along the river. There is a dozer line in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Much preparation work has been done among the communities of Himilaya and Hayes Creek. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek firefighters continue to assess needs for protection measures along the river. The structure protection group in the Murphy Dome area (Lincoln, Vancouver, Murphy, Martin etc.) southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to reinforce fire line and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 12, 2022

Acres: 37,523 acres | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 291

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: Yesterday, precipitation was received across the entire fire area. Rainfall amounts ranged from 0.07” to 0.97” recorded at weather stations near the incident. Fire activity has significantly diminished overall as a result of the precipitation and increased relative humidity. Heat could still hold in exceptionally dry deep duff and heavier fuels.

There will be a Minto Lakes Fire Public Meeting tonight at 7pm at the Ken Kunkel Community Center 2645 Goldstream Rd., Fairbanks AK 99709.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations: Firefighters will continue to provide for point protection of values at risk. Crews are working to secure, improve and reinforce protection measures, as well as beginning to back haul un-needed equipment. There is a dozer line in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek firefighters continue to assess needs for any additional protection measures along the river. The structure protection group in the Murphy Dome area (Lincoln, Vancouver, Murphy, Martin etc.) southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to reinforce fire line and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. Resource Advisors have been assigned to the incident and two more are expected to arrive soon. They will lead the effort to identify and protect values that could be impacted by the fire.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 11, 2022

Acres: 37,523 acres | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 309

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: Yesterday, precipitation was received across the entire fire area. Rainfall amounts ranged from 0.16” to 0.34” recorded at weather stations near the incident. Fire activity has diminished overall as a result though there is still heat present around the fire in dry deep duff and heavier fuels.

There will be a Minto Lakes Fire Public Meeting tomorrow night (7/12/2022) at 7pm at the Ken Kunkel Community Center 2645 Goldstream Rd., Fairbanks AK 99709.

The Red Flag Warning has been extended through today for abundant lightning and extremely dry fuels. Crews and equipment remain available for new fire starts. Thunderstorm activity is expected to remain high.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  Yesterday, aviation assets continued to drop water to protect structures near the Chatanika River. Crews are performing point protection as needed. There is a dozer line in place to protect the communities east of the fire. Crews will continue to install pumps and remove large diameter fuels from around areas at risk in the communities. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek firefighters continue to assess needs to continue placing protection measures along the river. The structure protection group in the Murphy Dome area (Lincoln, Vancouver, Murphy, Martin etc.) southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to locate and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. A Resource Advisor has been assigned to the incident and will lead the effort to identify and protect values that could be impacted by the fire.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

 Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 10, 2022

Acres: 36,753 acres | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 282

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: Fortunately, the inversion did not lift yesterday, and we did not receive the fire activity that was expected. We are still seeing active fire behavior on the north side of the fire between Washington Creek and the Tatalina River as well as the south-east side of fire.

 The Red Flag Warning has been extended through Monday for abundant lightning and extremely dry fuels. Crews and equipment remain available for new fire starts.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

 Operations:  Yesterday, aviation assets including Fire Boss aircraft and helicopters continued to drop water on another new three-acre spot fire on the south side of the Chatanika River. With the aviation support the firefighters were able to pick-up the spot and deploy hose around it. Today, they will continue to mop-up as needed. The six miles of dozer line, from the Hastings fire of 2011 is in place to protect the communities east of the fire.  Crews will continue to install pumps and remove large diameter fuels from around areas at risk in the communities. Along the Chatanika river moving west from the communities of the Himilaya/Hayes Creek firefighters continue to assess needs to continue placing protection measures along the river. The structure protection group to the southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to locate and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank. A Resource Advisor has been assigned to the incident and will lead the effort to identify and protect values that could be impacted by the fire.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 9, 2022

Acres: 35,367 acres | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 282

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: Higher temperatures and lower humidity led to an increase in fire activity yesterday. This is expected to continue through today due to the predicted weather. Thursday night's community meeting recording was posted to Facebook.

The Red Flag Warning has been extended through Sunday for abundant lightning and extremely dry fuels. Crews and equipment remain available for new fire starts.

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. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory. Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  Yesterday aviation assets including four Fire Boss aircraft and two helicopters were able to drop water on a couple two to three-acre spot fires on the south side of the Chatanika River. The aviation assets along with the Dalton hotshot crew were able to hold the spots and string hose around the fires, they will continue to search for and extinguish any residual heat. Firefighters protected structures in the path of a fire run near river marker 14 on the north side of the river. The six miles of dozer line, from the Hastings fire of 2011 continues to be re-enforced. Crews have installed approximately seven miles of hose and around 60 pumps for protection measures. Crews will continue to install pumps and remove large diameter fuels from around areas at risk in the communities. The structure protection group to the southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to locate and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.

Minto Lakes Daily Fire Update July 8, 2022

 
Acres: 35,186 acres | Containment: 0% | Total personnel: 313

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: Clear skies allowed for aerial assets to drop water on the Minto Lakes Fire. Last night's community meeting recording was posted to Facebook.

Another Red Flag Warning again today in effect through midnight for abundant lightning and extremely dry fuels. Crews and equipment continue to be available if new fires start.

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 Himalaya Subdivisions, please use caution in these areas. The fire area remains under a fuels and fire behavior advisory through July 8, 2022, Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory.

Operations:  Yesterday with the clearer sky's aviation assets were able to drop water on flair ups near the Chatanika River.  There was also increased fire activity on the northern flank as well as in unburned pockets near the center of the fire. The rest of the fire saw minimal growth with activity confined to creeping and smoldering. The six miles of dozer line, from the Hastings fire of 2011 continues to be re-enforced. Crews have installed approximately seven miles of hose and around 60 pumps for protection measures. Crews will continue to install pumps and remove large diameter fuels from around areas at risk in the communities. The structure protection group to the southeast of the fire have assessed structures and developed plans for protection in the event of any spread south. Crews continue to locate and mop up heat around the Native allotments on the southwestern flank.

Evacuations: For the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations evacuation map, scan the QR code or go to 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.