Deshka, McKinley Fire mop-up continues. Some personnel and equipment moving out

As progress continues on mopping up the Deshka Landing and McKinley Fires, some of the personnel and equipment assigned to the Mat-Su are being drawn down.

As of Monday morning, both fires are officially ninety-five percent contained.  Rain over the weekend reduced the occurrence of surface fires, but officials say the rain was not enough to penetrate into the ground, where fire is still smoldering out of sight.

Over the weekend, the incident management team has continued removing some hoses and other equipment used in containment efforts on the McKinley Fire.  That equipment will be refurbished where possible and used to fight fires in the future.  Crews are now working to repair some of the dozer and hand lines dug around the fire’s perimeter.  As crews reach their maximum deployment time, the number of firefighters will drop.

The Deshka Landing Fire, to the southwest of McKinley, has also seen significant progress.  As of Monday, the incident management team brought in to coordinate efforts fighting the fire will hand control back to the Alaska Division of Forestry.

In addition to helping prevent the fires from flaring up, the weekend’s rain has also led to the Alaska Division of Natural Resources lifting the suspension of burn permits.  As of Monday, burn permits are once again allowed to be used in the Mat-Su and Kenai Peninsula Boroughs.  Officials urge that anyone using a burn permit call the information line before burning.

Hunting remains closed in portions of Game Management Unit 14A, and access to some state lands is restricted as firefighting efforts continue.  More information is available from the Alaska Interagency Wildfire Information Office at 907-356-5511.