News Release

Fire Detected in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

Date: July 6, 2022
Contact: Jamie Hart, 907-707-9734

COPPER CENTER, AK – On Monday, July 4th, a call was received at the Valdez/Copper River office of the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, reporting a possible fire west of Copper Lake between Mount Sanford and Capital Mountain. A helicopter responded and observed a 0.25-acre fire burning in black spruce. The Capital Fire, which is now approximately 3 acres in size, is located in a Limited Protection area. This means fire managers will monitor the fire and allow it to provide resource benefits. The fire was lighting caused and there are currently no properties or values at risk. This will be reevaluated on a periodic basis.

With continued high fire danger, fire restrictions are still in place for the park and preserve. Until further notice, open campfires are restricted to designated campgrounds or cabins within enclosed metal fire grates or designated fire rings provided at developed recreational facilities within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Use of cooking stoves and gas grills is allowed. Fire danger remains very high over much of Alaska. Residents and visitors are urged to continue to use caution with anything that could ignite a fire.

For statewide fire information, visit the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center website at https://fire.ak.blm.gov/ or Alaska Wildland Fire Information at http://www.akfireinfo.com. More information is available at nps.gov/wrst or by calling the park’s main visitor center at 907- 822-7250 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily.