Local Firefighters Reflect on Sockeye Fire

By:  Katie Writer – KTNA

The Sockeye Fire is 94 % contained as of Thursday’s morning report. All involved with the massive effort, including Firefighters, the Mat-Su Borough, Red Cross, and out-of-state help are beginning to feel relief after what was the highest priority wildfire in the country last week nears containment.

Mother Nature sometimes helps with rain, but not in this case. Human effort, hard work, sweat and tears are responsible for the progress.

When driving through the Willow area on the Parks Highway, the sight of burnt trees and fallen homes tug at any viewer’s heart strings. Willow’s battle with the Sockeye Fire is nearly at its end and homemade signs saying “Thank You Fire Fighters!”  line the highway.

When talking with Caswell Fire Department on Tuesday, there was a moment to look back on the

past week of chaos. Firefighter Marika Carey remembers how quickly the fire grew.

“It was way out of control by the time that we got there, within 1/2 hour of the call.”

Fellow Caswell firefighter Garret Davidson says,

“The Second Day we were working on a house of a person we know very well.  We had been back there several times. On the fourth time, everything around the whole house was on fire and we thought we were going to loose it. Somehow, we pulled it off.”

After a long pause, Garret quietly says, “At one point, I was about to cry.”

Firefighters braved dangerously close contact with this high speed fire. Sometimes, at the point of trying to save a home or getting everyone out of harms way, including themselves, choices are made. One of the hardest choices a homeowner makes is to stay or go, and that can mean life or death.

The adrenalin on top of the physical demands of being a firefighter  is something to behold.

Marika Carey says

“It was like being in a dream for 36 or so hours…it was pretty intense!”

While fifty-five homes were lost to the blaze, no human lives were lost, thanks to the tireless efforts of first responders.

During the Sockeye Fire, the FAA set up a temporary Flight Control Tower at the Willow airport to manage the fire related air traffic. Now that the fire is 94% contained, they will move on.

The Temporary Flight Restriction surrounding the Willow area was lifted mid-day Thursday.

More than 300 firefighters continue working to contain the Sockeye Fire.  The areas still burning are located near the Susitna River, Willow Creek, and Little Willow Creek.