Wildfires threaten Alaska communities across state

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Hundreds of thousands of acres of land have burned in Alaska in 2024, with the wildfire season showing no signs of slowing down.

July 2 – 12:30 p.m.

Riley Fire

The wildfire raging just a mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve has now grown to 388 acres and is 10 percent contained, according to a park spokesperson.

Officials said the park will remain closed through Tuesday and tour and transit buses will not operate.

Two firefighting crews from the lower 48 states joined the effort to fight the blaze, with crews focusing on the southern flank of the fire, which is closest to people and structures.

The fire was determined to be man-made, although authorities have yet to determine exactly how.

Montana Creek Fire

Alaska State Fire investigators have determined that the fire south of Talkeetna was human-caused. It was discovered Saturday.

According to authorities, the fire is now 40% contained, with most of the fire now reduced to a slow smoulder in the wood.

According to authorities, 96 firefighters are battling the blaze.

Statewide

As of Tuesday afternoon, nine new fires were discovered in the past 24 hours, bringing Alaska's total to 171 active fires.

Of these, 20 forest fires are currently under control by firefighting teams.

In total, more than 456,000 acres of land have been charred this season, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, which combines resources from the Alaska Fire Department, Division of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service.

Cooler temperatures and the possibility of showers in some areas are expected to help fight wildfires in southcentral Alaska.

1st of July

Riley Fire

A wildfire that quickly grew into a 350-acre blaze Sunday afternoon near the entrance to Denali National Park was being contained by firefighting crews Monday, despite some utility shutdowns and a power outage in the immediate area.

A Denali National Park and Preserve spokesperson said crews made “good progress” overnight, with the line holding the southern edge of the fire, which is closest to people and structures. They were able to keep the fire from threatening buildings.

In an update from the Bureau of Land Management, Beth Ipsen said the Riley Wildfire is currently at 0% containment, but has not changed in overall size.

Winds were blowing northwest Sunday, away from areas most vulnerable to the fire, authorities said.

Park staff said all tour bus and public transportation services were halted and campers already inside the park were allowed to remain there, but no new visitors were allowed to enter.

Alaska Railroad announced Tuesday that passenger train service to Denali National Park has been canceled for Monday and Tuesday. Passengers on the Denali Star train traveling north from Talkeetna to Fairbanks, or south from Fairbanks to Anchorage, will be able to take motorcoach.

Park officials said the cause of the Riley Fire was not yet known, but on Monday they concluded it was a human-caused spark, meaning natural causes such as lightning have been ruled out. The Alaska Railroad runs through the area where the fire is burning, and officials have not confirmed whether that played a role.

Montana Creek Fire

Located about 16 miles south of Talkeetna near mile marker 96 of the Parks Highway, the Montana Creek Fire was 172 acres in size as of Monday evening, according to state officials.

Incident Commander Timothy Sherwin of Wyoming said the fire was about 35 to 40 percent contained.

Sherwin said containment was aided by installing hoses around the perimeter of the fire. The hose is connected to pumps that are continually replenished by the Talkeetna Fire Department.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.