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Tok, Alaska –– Due to the forecast for continued hot, dry weather, fire managers with the Alaska Division of Forestry are increasing their capability to do long-range planning for the Chisana River Fire. A team of managers from Alaska and Canada will take over management of the fire by mid week and operations will shift from Tok to Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada for closer proximity to the fire.The 29, 910-acre fire is approximately 13 miles west of the Canadian border, 18 miles west of Beaver Creek, Yukon, Canada and 21 miles northeast of Chisana. While growth of the fire has slowed in recent days, high temperatures and low relative humidity forecast for the coming week increase the likelihood that the fire will grow.Fire managers have developed contingency plans, positioned resources, and have identified trigger points to take action if back country improvements or natural or cultural resources are threatened.Currently no resources are threatened. Smokefrom the fire will be visible and may be heavy at times.If smoke impacts the Alaska Highway, motorists are asked to use caution, slow down, and drive with their headlights on.Updated information on travel conditions can be found athttp://511.alaska.gov. Wildland fire smoke information is available at http://www.dec.state.ak.us/air/smokemain.htm. A Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory remains in effect for most of Alaska, due to record heat and dry fuels.Read more at: http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/weather/outlooks/FFBehavior.pdf. Information will be updated when significant changes in fire activity occur. Information and photos are also available at http://inciweb.org/incident/3440/. Information about fires burning in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is available at https://www.nps.gov/wrst/parkmgmt/currentfireinfo.htm |
Last updated: April 14, 2015