Firefighters hope calmer winds will make fighting Moose Creek fire easier

More than ninety people are currently fighting the Moose Creek wildfire between mile 54 and 58 of the Glenn Highway.

The Moose Creek fire is currently estimated at 328 acres. The fire began over the weekend, and strong winds caused it to grow rapidly. According to the Alaska Division of Forestry, winds in the area have been between twenty-five and thirty miles-per-hour with gusts of up to sixty miles-per-hour.

Officials hope that calmer winds will make containing the Moose Creek wildfire easier. Winds in the area are expected to be about half as strong as over the weekend.

In addition to the Moose Creek fire, firefighters responded to a five-acre fire on Monday that was started by a downed power line. Ground crews and helicopters were able to contain the new fire before it spread significantly.

As of Tuesday morning, the Moose Creek Fire is twenty-two percent contained.