Prairie Creek Fire threatens lodge and cabins

There were 19 new wildfires detected across the state on Monday. Most of the new blazes are lightning starts in remote areas, including eleven of the 93 million acre Galena zone, which stretches from the western interior to the Arctic Slope.

Among 5 fires being fought, is a 2 thousand acre tundra grass fire on the North Slope. The Alaska Fire Service reports that there are several cabins and Native land allotments in the area of the Tusikpak  Lake Fire, east of the village of Pt. Hope.

Another fire getting attention is burning 40 miles northeast of Talkeetna, roughly 3 miles south of Stephan Lake.  The Alaska Division of Forestry reports that ground crews and air tankers were deployed on the 33 acre Prairie Fire to protect an area that threatens a hunting lodge and cabins.  

Due to the remote location of the fire, firefighters had to be helicoptered in to work on the fire. Three firefighters from the Mat-Su Area forestry office were initially flown into the fire to protect two cabins threatened by the fire. Two air tankers – one based in Palmer and one in Fairbanks – each dropped two loads of retardant around the perimeter on Monday to keep it from spreading further.
The Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew and Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew were shuttled into the site on Monday and Tuesday, putting the total number of personnel working on the fire at 48.

The first priority Monday night was cutting landing zones for helicopters near the perimeter of the fire in the event of a medical emergency. Crews began cutting a saw line around the fire on Tuesday to help contain the spread of the fire. Once a saw line has been cut around the fire, crews will begin searching for hotspots and mopping up.