The past few days in the area we were getting smoked out in the Tanana Valley here, as this entire month of June it had been pretty warm and way hot.
We average 12 days of 80 F degree plus temperatures thru the duration of the entire summer season here, as just this month alone we already well exceeded that (19th day) with a few days exceeding 90 F and been stuck with a practically unbearable heat wave in this area (90 F in the arctic is just like 110 F in the desert).
Thru yesterday there have been 115 fires reported this month statewide as most of these fires developed in the interior alone, as the majority of them usually start by lightning strikes but not in this case this season, it is just hot and dry conditions.
Normally when the Alaska Interior has high temps in the summer, it usually does not last a week, but this is one of those rare prolonged heat waves that occurred, and with it comes extreme fire danger with potential wildfires erupting with all the surrounding undergrowth for fuel.
Last Thursday the 27th at midnight, my home was less than 300 feet away from getting potentially destroyed due to a wildfire that developed in a vacant lot loaded with stacks of pallets and logs for firewood that started heading towards my home and others....
This first picture was taken from my driveway when I was made aware of the situation at hand as I could feel the intense heat from this distance...
The flames were getting quite larger rather quickly due to the prolonged heat wave the area has had with extreme dry conditions as I taken quick pictures from the other side of the blaze :
Flames reaching 50 feet high at this point starting to burn the taller birch trees in the background :
I stopped taking pictures and broke out the garden hose and watered the ground all along the front of my house and driveway as the charred birch tree leaves were landing in my front and backyard, the flames had reached the tallest birch trees nearby as flames reached 80 feet high by the time fire crews arrived...once fire crews responded to the scene they did a fine job controlling the blaze as they spent three hours ensuring all hot spots were fully contained and put out....the mobile home structure that was in the adjacent lot had been engulfed as it was unoccupied while no one was living there.
Fire close to full containment by 300am :
Following day aftermath :
I can't thank the fire crews enough for saving property all along my immediate area, as when an entire month of 80 F and hotter with a few 90 F plus days without a occasional humid day or some form of rain in between can easily lead to this scenario - it has been a hot summer here since Memorial Day Weekend as a friend of mine lost his family home and adjacent dwellings over the holiday weekend due to a roto tiller sparking the dry grass.
There is still a mainland statewide ban on campfires, fireworks, firewood cutting, and any other potential ignition source as the major fire between Nenana and Fairbanks that was caused by human means had found the person responsible but now finally under widespread control.
As noted, Fairbanks had run out of supplies of mosquito spray and coils, electric fans and air conditioners in which I scored a Walmart closeout deal 8 years ago when they sold mosquito coils for 25 cents per box so I purchased the last 50 or so boxes they had....I still have 30 boxes left.
I had two three packs of mosquito spray still in my camper as I broke one open in which I could not find any in stock at the stores recently so it is always good to overstock on a few things when you live in these parts.
I have very tall birch trees in my front yard which provides full shade along my house so I never need any fan or air conditioner as inside my house rarely sees 80 degrees inside.
For all the RV'ers visiting the far north, do be aware of the extreme dry conditions we are experiencing here and take the necessary precautions for everyone's sake.
