Red Flag Warnings today issued for Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Salcha, Tanana, Anderson, Healy and Glennallen

By Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection on August 5, 2023

Red Flag Warnings have been issued for portions of the Interior and Copper River Basin. This includes the communities of Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Salcha, Tanana, Anderson, Healy and Glennallen. [Editor note: Fairbanks was added to the Red Flag Warning area at 8:55am today after original publication]. Air quality advisories are in effect for central and eastern Alaska with major smoke impacts within the Tanana Flats/Valley. There are currently 146 active fires: 53 in critical or full protection and 93 in limited management zones. 69,611 acres have burned statewide.

HIGHLIGHTED FIRE ACTIVITY

Lost Horse Creek (#296) – [1,900 acres] North of Old Murphy Dome Road, 3.5 miles east of Mile 18 Elliot Highway. Crews made progress on a bulldozed containment line reinforced with fire retardant. Pumps, water tanks, and hose lays arrived on site as crews conduct structure assessment and protection in the Haystack Subdivision. Fairbanks North Star Borough issued a GO! evacuation notice for Upper Haystack area. (40 Personnel)

Anderson Complex (#899) – [9,000+ acres] Anderson-Clear area. Crews are nearly finished with the fuel breaks around the City of Anderson. Hotshot crews took advantage of reduced fire activity to continue installing pumps, hoses, and sprinklers around structures and allotments along the Teklanika River, in the Clear Sky homestead and the Rose Hip Creek area. Evacuation levels remain in place from the Denali Borough. (270 personnel)

McCoy Creek (#201) – [7,830 acres] River mile 29, Salcha River. Fire continued to grow to the south and southeast. White Mountain and Union Hotshots were able to continue to keep the north of the fire secure along the Salcha River. Aviation resources continue to support crews and evacuation levels remain in place from the Fairbanks North Star Borough. (82 personnel)

Pogo Mine Road (#191) – [17,950 acres] 9 miles down Pogo Road. Fire activity increased later in the afternoon making a run towards the Pipeline. Tanana Chiefs Crew and DOF personnel continue working to protect Pogo Mine Road, the Pogo Gold Mine, Quartz Lake, and timber. (25 personnel)

Sand Lake (#261) – [43 acres – decrease of 107.0 acres due to mapping] 6 miles northwest of Dot Lake. Staffed with a Type 2 crew and module of firefighters from Southwest Alaska. The crew started to establish saw line along the west flank and developed a pump site. Fire behavior was minimal with no fire growth. (28 personnel)

Mosquito Creek (#290) – [35 acres] 5 miles east of Harding Lake. Yukon Fire Crew and smokejumpers were able to secure the far northwest corner of the fire. Jumpers were able to work on hazard trees and crews were able to secure the head of the fire and help progress both flanks. (43 personnel)

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Categories: Active Wildland Fire, Air Quality, AK Fire Info, Fire Weather, Red Flag Warning

Tags: 2023 Alaska Fire Season, Anderson Complex, Lost Horse Creek Fire, McCoy Creek Fire, Pogo Mine Road Fire, Sand Lake Fire, Teklanika River Fire