Sockeye Fire Grows to Over 4,000 Acres Near Willow

The small fire that was initially reported at 1:15 pm burned more than 4,000 acres by 10:00 pm. Willow residents from Sharen Road south to Nancy Lake Parkway are evacuating, and many people are stuck on one side or the other of the fire, which has closed the Parks Highway.

Currently, there are evacuation gathering points north and south of the Sockeye Fire. South of the fire, the Red Cross has set up a shelter at Houston Middle School. The Willow Community Center was being used as a shelter, but was evacuated as the fire continued south. North of the fire, the Red Cross shelter is at the Upper Susitna Senior Center. Mat-Su Borough School District spokeswoman Catherine Esary says that the borough has not requested the use of Su-Valley Jr/Sr High School as an overflow shelter, but that it could be made available.

Windy conditions have allowed what started as a small fire to turn into a blaze that is still moving south toward Willow as of the time this is being written. The state Division of Forestry estimates the size of the fire at 4,183 acres as of Sunday night.

Hotshot crews from Outside arrived in Anchorage Sunday evening to help fight the quickly-growing fire.  Equipment and firefighters from around Southcentral Alaska are already working to save structures in the Willow area.

Authorities are asking that people stay away from the area.

KTNA will provide additional information as it becomes available.