Wildfires

Wildfires - Alaska

Fire crews continue to battle two growing wildfires southeast of the Kuskokwim River in Interior Alaska.

Crews in the Whitefish Lake area were able to join two lightning-started fires together in a burnout operation, and are now managing it as a single fire, according to a fire update by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center. Known as the Whitefish Lake 1 Fire, it has grown to 14,200 acres and is burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge roughly 10 miles southwest of Kalskag.

Crews have established a control line on the eastern side of the fire and are utilizing water-scooping aircraft to create a control line on the west side. Excepting emergency aircraft, a temporary flight restriction has been placed over the fire.

A second fire in the area has reached 8,268 acres. Crews have begun efforts to contain the Bogus Creek Fire using natural barriers. The fire is located just south of the Whitefish Lake Fire 1, and was also started by lightning.