This post will be updated continuously as additional information becomes available regarding the Montana Creek Fire.
6/30 3:47pm: The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection says there is no update on the Montana Creek Fire size. Crews continue to make progress with the cooler temperatures and rain helping to supress the fire. Additional crews and the Incidient Command Team are arriving throughout the day today and will likely take over the scene Monday.
6/30 12:45 pm: Here is the latest from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection: “The Montana Creek Fire, 16 miles south of Talkeetna, was reported yesterday afternoon and quickly grew to 172 acres in size consuming grass, brush and black spruce. The large-scale response to the fire included both federal, state and local municipal resources. Aviation assets were heavily used to drop water and retardant in order to slow the spread of the fire and cool the perimeter allowing fire crews to construct direct handline and install hose lays where safe to do so. In addition to personnel already assigned to the fire, three additional 20-person hand crews and a type 3 incident management team have been ordered and will be arriving today to support firefighting operations.
Due to the fire activity seen within the fire area yesterday, residents along the Leroy Davie Road and Montana Creek Road corridors were moved to a SET (Alert Status). However, an evacuation order has not been issued at this time. There has been confirmation that one outbuilding has been lost to the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Parks Highway remains open. The public traveling on the Parks Highway will continue to be impacted by smoke and a large contingency of both aerial and ground resources assisting in fire suppression efforts between mile markers 94-100. The public is encouraged to stay attentive and slow down near the fire area as crews continue suppression efforts throughout the day.
In addition to ground travel, there has been a temporary flight restriction put in place to provide clear air space to aviation assets assisting on the fire. For more information on the current TFR, please visit https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_4_5688.html “
6/30: As of 11am Sunday, the Montana Creek Fire is at 172 acres and there is no containment.
There are currently 58 personnel on the ground. Firefighters on the left flank are making good progress with saw and hand lines to slow the spread. Fire crews are also mopping up structures that were impacted by the fire around Leroy Davie and Montana Creek Roads. At this time, no primary structures have been impacted. One outbuilding was lost to the fire.
State firefighters are being assisted by Federal and Local firefighters. Five additional hand crews and an incident management team will arrive today to assist with the fire. Fire activity has drastically diminished overnight with the firefighting resources and cooler temperatures. Forecasted rain should also help with suppression efforts. The fire seems to be moving in a north-northwest direction at this time.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Please be aware of fire personnel at the Montana Creek Fire around and near the Parks Highway. Use caution and drive slow through the area, Miles 94 through 100 on the Parks Highway.
This post will be updated continuously as additional information becomes available regarding the Montana Creek Fire. We will provide one final update on-air at 10:00 pm on 6/29 unless the situation changes. This post will continue to be updated as information becomes available.
6/29 9:16 pm: The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection will not be providing further updates tonight unless there is a flare-up or evacuation. With that in mind, we will provide one more planned on-air update at 10:00 pm. This post will continue to be updated as more information becomes available tomorrow. If there is urgent information, we will resume live on-air updates.
6/29 8:40 pm: From the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection: “With the support of aerial resources including heavy air tankers, water scooping aircraft and multiple helicopters, firefighters on the Montana Creek Fire are making good progress towards suppression efforts on the Montana Creek Fire (#312) this evening. With the hard work by personnel on the ground, including engine crews, fire crews and smokejumpers, firefighters were able to slow the spread of the fire with the use of hose lays, aerials assets and multiple fire apparatus from a large contingency of Mat-Su Burrough fire departments.
Alaska State Troopers will continue to have a presence along the Parks Highway near the fire area near mile marker 96 throughout the evening and into tomorrow as fire crews continue to use the highway for access to the fire and to support fire personnel assigned to the incident. Fire managers will continue to capitalize on aerial assets throughout the evening with the use of water dropping helicopters and airplanes. The public will continue to see numerous airplanes and helicopters in the fire area over the next few days. The public is reminded to slow down near the fire and provide our fire personnel a safe corridor to the fire as they continue their suppression efforts throughout the night and into tomorrow.
Even as firefighters try to gain the upper hand tonight, the fire behavior continues to still be active along much of the perimeter, prompting the Mat-Su Borough to issue a SET status for residents along the Leroy Davie and Montana Creek roads. This is NOT an evacuation order at this time.
This will be the last update for the evening unless fire activity increases or evacuation status changes to GO for residents impacted by the fire.”
Full post is available here: https://akfireinfo.com/…/fire-crews-responding-to-new…/
6/29 8:10 pm: Anticipating a slowdown of information as we get further into the evening, we are stepping back our planned on-air updates regarding the Montana Creek Fire. The next planned update will be at 9:00 pm. If urgent information comes in before then, we will go on air with it immediately. This post will continue to be updated as we have confirmed information regarding the fire.
6/29 7:55 pm: From the Mat-Su Borough: “Montana Creek Fire information”
ATTN Residents of: Leroy Davie Rd and Montana Creek Rd. We are asking those residents to move to a 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 pm: According to the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Montana Creek Fire is now estimated between 70 and 100 acres. Public Information Officer Brandon Hampton says crews are making good progress. The Parks Highway remains open at this time.
6/29 5:54 pm: From Alaska State Troopers: “The Alaska State Troopers are assisting the Alaska Division of Forestry with traffic control for a wildfire near Montana Creek Road and the Parks Highway. The Parks Highway is currently open to all traffic. The residential roads between mile 94 and mile 98 of the Parks Highway are only open to residential traffic. Please drive with caution on the Parks Highway between Willow and Trapper Creek and expect increased emergency vehicle traffic. “
We just spoke with a public information officer with the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. He says the fire is currently estimated between 20 and 30 acres and is “very active.” Smokejumpers have been inserted into the area, and air tankers are actively fighting the fire.
6/29 5:36 pm: We have reached out to 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 into the evening. The next on-air update will be at 6:00 pm. According to the Upper Susitna Community and Senior Center Facebook Page, the center is being opened for those who may require shelter.
6/29 4:37 pm: The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection has issued the following update on the Montana Creek Fire:
“Firefighters and aerial 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 pm today at 1/4 acre and quickly grew in size to an estimated 20 acres. The fire is burning in black spruce with grass understory. The fire has exhibited a high rate of spread with 5 foot flame lengths with isolated torching of trees within the fire perimeter. Resources responding include 3 wildland fire engines, a fire suppression module, 1 borough water tender, 2 helicopters, 1 retardant aircraft, 2 scoopers and a load of smokejumpers currently enroute.
The Parks Highway is currently open, but smoke and fire vehicles will be operating in the area between mile markers 94 and 98. The pubic is asked to slow down and drive with caution near the fire areas as firefighters and aviation resources are currently on scene battling the fire. “
