Date: July 30, 2009
Contact: Fire Information Office, (907) 529-0511
Contact: Morgan Warthin, (907) 644-3418
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McCarthy, Alaska—Additional personnel were demobilized today as the Chakina Fire response transitioned to a monitoring operation. A three-person crew is stationed at Jake’s Bar to patrol the Chitina River, monitor fire weather and watch for hot spots. A helicopter crew remains assigned to map the fire perimeter, monitor fire behavior, and respond to increased fire activity along the Chitina River.
Engine crews with the Kennicott/ McCarthy and Strelna volunteer fire departments continued to assist local residents with fuel reduction projects to create defensible space around homes and other structures. Monitoring activities will continue until the weather changes and significant precipitation saturates the fire area.
Smoke-filled skies persisted in the McCarthy-Kennecott area due to a combination of prevailing winds and an inversion layer that kept smoke close to the ground. The road to McCarthy remains open, but travelers should anticipate areas of reduced visibility, drive with headlights on and use caution.
The fire perimeter grew slightly. Areas within the fire perimeter continued to burn together. Fire behavior continues to create a mosaic of burn severity across the fire area. These conditions will contribute to a range of fire effects that improve regeneration of forage for wildlife while maintaining vertical cover. This mosaic will also aid in reducing the severity of future fires. The fire will continue to produce smoke over the fire area impacting local residents as internal areas continue to burn.
- Total Acres: 49,365
- Crews: 0
- Engines: 2
- Helicopters: 1
- Total Personnel: 31
The road from Chitina to McCarthy is open. Drive with headlights on and anticipate areas of heavy smoke and low visibility. Pilots should check NOTAMs and Temporary Flight Restrictions. They should alsobe aware of fire-related helicopter and fixed-wing traffic and decreased visibility. The local victor frequency is 122.9.
For additional information, visit www.nps.gov/wrst/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm, email or contact the local Fire Information Office at (907) 529-0511 or Morgan Warthin, NPS contact in Anchorage for interviews: (907) 644-3418.
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