Montana Creek, Malaspina Fires seventy-five percent contained

Over the weekend, progress continued on the Montana Creek and Malaspina Fires, and firefighters responded to at least two other small fires in the Northern Susitna Valley.

According to the latest update from the Alaska Division of Forestry, both the Montana Creek and Malaspina Fires are currently seventy-five percent contained.  Personnel assigned to the fires has been greatly reduced, with two teams from Forestry patrolling and putting out hot spots.  Neither fire has grown in the last week, and fire activity is described as minimal.

The Montana Creek Fire started on the afternoon of July 3^rd and grew rapidly to it’s ultimate size of 367 acres.  The Malaspina Fire started four days later, and prompted the evacuation of nearby streets.  Both fires were slowed significantly through the use of aircraft dumping water and retardant.

While mop-up efforts continue on the two larger fires in the area, a continuing concern for firefighters is a new ignition.  Over the weekend, two smaller burns were tackled before they could get out of hand. 

Sunday morning, the Talkeetna Fire Department responded to a small cooking fire near the junction of the Parks Highway and Talkeetna Spur Road.  While cooking fires are currently allowed, a social media post from the fire department says fires must always be attended, and proper precautions should be taken to prevent them from spreading.

Sunday evening, a fire of approximately a quarter-acre in size ignited on Petersville Road.  Quick response from air assets and a Forestry team kept that fire from spreading as quickly as the Malaspina and Montana Creek Fires.

A burn suspension remains in effect for the Mat-Su Borough, meaning burning of debris, use of burn barrels, and any other fire that requires a burn permit is currently not allowed.