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Fire Use Module Arrives at Gilahina Fire (Copper Center, AK) – The Whiskeytown (CA) Fire Use Module arrived Sunday morning to assume responsibility for monitoring the Gilahina Fire. This specially trained 8-person crew will be making long-range plans for the fire. They will also assess the Gilahina Trestle and a cabin in the Lakina River drainage for fuels reduction needed to reduce the likelihood they would burn in a wildfire, now or in the future. On Sunday, the Noorvik #1 crew was flown off of the fireline and reassigned to work on the Hastings Fire, 15 miles northwest of Fairbanks. With the release of the initial attack forces, the command of the fire has also changed. James Sullivan has replaced Mike Trimmer as the Incident Commander. The Gilahina Fire has shown little activity over the last few days, with very few areas showing visible smoke. Yesterday about 0.1inch of rain fell on the fire. The forecast calls for warmer, drier weather this week, which may bring an increase in fire activity. Most of the fire is burning in the Limited Fire Management area in the Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve. The State of Alaska Division of Forestry and National Park Service are managing this fire cooperatively. The Gilahina Fire has created a mosaic of green and burned areas. As vegetation regrows in the burn, this area will provide improved wildlife habitat and aid in reducing the severity of future fires. The McCarthy Road is open with no driving restrictions. For those who fly in the vicinity, be aware of fire related helicopter and fixed-wing traffic and the possibility of suddenly decreased visibility. The local victor frequency is 122.90. For more information about fires statewide, contact the Alaska Interagency Fire Information Center at 907-356-5511, or visit http://fire.ak.blm.gov/ |
Last updated: April 14, 2015