Morning fire update for 8/22

As of this morning, both the McKinley and Deshka Fires are ten-percent contained.

Due to increased firefighting resources and calm winds, neither fire grew significantly yesterday.  The McKinley Fire is currently 3,752 acres.  In an update last night, incident command public information officer Kale Casey said the team was able to do more sophisticated mapping through the day, resulting in a smaller measurement of the fire.  The Deshka Fire is 2,217 acres.

The McKinley Fire has destroyed an estimated eighty structures.  Assessments are underway to determine how many of those were residences.  As of this morning’s update, the Deshka Fire has not destroyed any structures, and no private land is involve in the burn area.

Yesterday, firefighters responded to a twenty-acre spot fire from McKinley that flared up on the east side of the Parks Highway.  That spot fire is expected to have a perimeter line completed around it today.

Evacuations remain in effect for mileposts 82 to 91 of the Parks Highway.  Residents and visitors are not being allowed into the area until damage assessments are complete.  The Alaska National Guard is staffing entry points, and Alaska State Troopers are conducting round-the-clock patrols of the evacuated areas.

The Parks Highway is open this morning, with traffic moving one direction at a time with pilot cars between miles 76 and 99.  Motorists should expect significant delays, and the highway could close without notice.