Sam Creek Cabin still stands thanks to quick response

by Deborah Coble

The Andrew Creek Fire speeds toward the historic NPS Sam Creek Cabin in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve July 2018.

NPS photo/C. Havener

Frequent lightning-caused fires along with a significant number of historic and cultural resources at potential risk made for challenging months in late July and early August for Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Considerable planning, preparation, collaboration and prompt action between Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service and the National Park Service helped save those resources, but none to a greater degree than the NPS cabin at Sam Creek.

The Andrew Creek Fire, located approximately 47 miles southeast of Circle, Alaska, started with a lightning strike on July 24, 2018 and within less than 24 hours threatened the historic Sam Creek Cabin from the west. NPS Eastern Area Helicopter Manager, Chris Havener, flew in helicopter 6094E to assist with reconnaissance, cargo delivery and helispot improvement. A late evening shift in winds changed what was once the flank of the fire to the head of the fire with Sam Creek Cabin directly in its path.

A closer view of the fire shows better proximity from cabin to flames.

NPS photo/C. Havener

Twelve firefighters from both Alaska Fire Service and the National Park Service deployed by boat from Slavens Roadhouse (approximately 8 river miles) downstream of the Yukon River to Sam Creek Cabin. The crew arrived on scene at approximately 9:30 pm on the evening of July 25 and immediately set up structure protection.

Utilizing a point protection strategy (plumb and defend), the crew was able to access a prepositioned cargo net with suppression equipment. From this equipment, the firefighters deployed a pump and hose system around Sam Creek Cabin. As the fire front passed, firefighters continued to secure the perimeter while extinguishing spot fires as soon as they ignited.

The following morning at approximately 10:30 on July 26, it is easy to see how close the fire’s edge came to the cabin.

NPS photo/C. Havener

By 12:30 am the following morning on July 26 the crew had secured the structure from the fire front considerably reducing the threat to the cabin. The crew continued to hold and improve structure protection along the Coal Creek and Woodchopper Creek area until significant precipitation on the fire arrived August 6.

The NPS Fire Management staff in Alaska manage large and long-lasting fires by balancing the risks and benefits of fire. Committed to safety, science, and resource stewardship, the NPS works with the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service, State of Alaska Division of Forestry and the United States Forest Service to respond to fires as a team. Each year fire management staff review cooperative planning efforts to ensure that human life, private property and identified resources receive the appropriate level of protection with available firefighting resources; the cost of suppression efforts is commensurate with the values identified for protection; and the ability of land managers to achieve their individual management objectives is optimized in each fire management plan.