Resources to be Released from Gilahina Fire

Date: June 12, 2011

Fire Information: 907-960-1024, [e-mail], http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2773 https://www.nps.gov/wrst/parkmgmt/currentfireinfo.htm

Resources to be Released from the Gilahina Fire

(Copper Center, AK) – Having completed their assignments, the resources currently working on the Gilahina Fire are scheduled to be released from the fire on Monday. They will be made available to help with other fires in Alaska and the rest of the United States.

The Whiskeytown Wildland Fire Module and other firefighters have met multiple objectives. Excess fuels around the Gilahina Trestle and the Lakina cabin have been removed. The fireline along the southwest edge of the fire has been refurbished. The fire has been mapped and areas with residual heat identified. Several options have been identified for possibly restricting fire growth if the fire becomes more active.

Since June 1, the fire has shown little activity except for burning pockets of residual fuel within the fire perimeter. Two Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) will continue to monitor weather conditions in the Gilahina Fire area and in the adjacent Lakina drainage. Aerial observers will regularly fly the fire to watch for changes in activity or acreage. If needed, firefighters will be reassigned to this fire.

News releases will be distributed when there is any significant news about the Gilahina Fire. The Inciweb and National Park Service websites will continue to be updated when new information is available. The State of Alaska Division of Forestry and National Park Service are managing this fire cooperatively.

The Gilahina Fire is five miles north of the McCarthy Road. There are no restrictions on the McCarthy Road. Pilots are reminded to watch for fire related helicopter and fixed-wing traffic, and be aware of the possibility of heavy smoke. 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/.