Montana Creek Fire Information – KTNA 88.9 FM

This article will be updated as additional information becomes available regarding the Montana Creek Fire. KTNA currently provides live updates every hour.

06/29 8:40 PM: From the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection: “With the support of air resources including heavy air tankers, water recovery aircraft and multiple helicopters, Montana Creek Fire firefighters are making good progress toward suppression efforts on the Montana Creek Fire (#312) tonight. Thanks to the hard work of personnel on the ground including engine crews, fire crews and smoke bombers, firefighters were able to slow the spread of the fire through the use of hoses, aerials and multiple pieces of fire apparatus from a large contingent of Mat-Su. Burrough Fire Department.

Alaska State Troopers will continue to have a presence along Parks Highway near the fire area near mile marker 96 throughout the evening and tomorrow as fire crews will continue to use the highway to access the fire and to support fire personnel assigned to the incident. Fire managers will continue to take advantage of aerial assets throughout the evening through the use of helicopters and water planes. The public will continue to see numerous planes and helicopters in the fire area over the next few days. The public is reminded to slow down near the fire and provide our firefighters with a safe corridor to the fire as they continue their suppression efforts throughout the night and into tomorrow.

Although firefighters are trying to gain the upper hand tonight, fire behavior continues to be active across much of the perimeter, prompting the Mat-Su District to issue a SET status for residents along Leroy Davie and Montana Creek roads. This is NOT an evacuation order at this time.

This will be the last update of the evening unless fire activity increases or the evacuation status is changed to GO for residents affected by the fire.

The full article is available here: https://akfireinfo.com/…/fire-crews-responding-to-new…/

06/29 8:10 PM: Anticipating a slowdown in information as we move through the evening, we are delaying our scheduled live updates regarding the Montana Creek Fire. The next scheduled update will be at 9:00 PM. If urgent information comes in before then, we will provide it immediately. This message will continue to be updated as we have confirmed information regarding the fire.

06/29 7:55 p.m.: From Mat-Su Borough: “Montana Creek Fire Information”

ATTN Residents of: Leroy Davie Road and Montana Creek Road. We are asking these residents to move to SET status. This is NOT an evacuation order at this time.” Information regarding READY, SET, GO! can be found on the borough’s post here: https://l.facebook.com/l.php…

6/29 6:25 p.m.: According to the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Montana Creek Fire is now estimated to be between 70 and 100 acres. Public Information Officer Brandon Hampton says crews are progressing well. The Parcs highway remains open for the moment.

06/29 5:54 p.m.: From Alaska State Troopers: “Alaska State Troopers are assisting the Alaska Division of Forestry with traffic control during a wildfire near from Montana Creek Road and Parks Highway. The Parcs highway is currently open to all traffic. Residential roads located between miles 94 and 98 of the Parcs Autoroute are only open to residential traffic. Please drive with caution on Parks Highway between Willow and Trapper Creek and expect increased emergency vehicle traffic. “

We just spoke with a public information officer from the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. He says the fire is currently estimated to be between 20 and 30 acres and is “very active.” Smoke bombs have been placed in the area and air tankers are actively fighting the fire.

06/29 5:36 PM We have contacted the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection and will provide information as it becomes available. Currently, we plan to provide updates at least once an hour in the evening. The next live update will be at 6:00 p.m. According to the Upper Susitna Community and Senior Center Facebook page, the center is open for those who may need shelter.

06/29 4:37 p.m.: The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection released the following update on the Montana Creek Fire:

“Fire and air resources are currently responding to a new incident two miles northeast of the community of Montana Creek on the Parks Highway near mile marker 95. The Montana Creek Fire (#318) was reported around 3:15 p.m. today on 1/4 acre and quickly grew to about 20 acres. The fire is burning in a black spruce with a grassy understory. The fire showed a high rate of spread with flames 5 feet in length with isolated tree fires within the fire perimeter. Response resources include 3 wildland fire trucks, a fire suppression module, 1 borough water tanker, 2 helicopters, 1 retardant aircraft, 2 shovels and a load of parachutists currently en route.

The Parks Highway is currently open, but smoke and fire vehicles will be operating in the area between mile markers 94 and 98. The public is asked to slow down and drive with caution near fire areas as firefighters and air resources are currently on scene battling the fire.