Lightning Sparks Fires in Upper Valley

Lightning sparked three fires in the Upper Valley on Sunday. 

The Susitna fire is located near the river about six miles due west of the Willow Airport. A suppression module remained on the fire overnight and it is still not contained as of Monday morning.

Lightning also sparked a fire at the Willow Airport and at Amber Lake in Trapper Creek. Both fires are contained. Trapper Creek Volunteer Fire Chief Chrystal Mayer says heavy rainfall helped put out the fire at Amber Lake.  

Mayer says burn permits in the Mat-Su Valley are suspended until further notice. They are required for anything larger than a small warming fire between April 1 and August 31, but with the hot, dry, and windy conditions, any fires could quickly get out of control. Always have water on site and make sure the fire is dead out. 

Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Information Officer Sam Harrel says there were more than 7,000 lightning strikes detected State-wide on Sunday. That is by far the most in one day for this season. 

Though rainfall does help put out fires, there is still potential for one of those fires to smolder. Harrel says with a little sun and breeze, those fires could start again. This week could bring more hot, dry, and windy conditions. Chances for rainfall increase later in the week.