The Parks Highway is closed between mile 71 and 78 due to a wildfire that has burned an estimated 1,000 acres. This is the area around Willow AK. ON EDIT: MILE 66 TO 77 WAS EVACUATED WITH 6,500 ACRE BURNED AS OF MIDNIGHTResidents have been evacuated and more are on evacuation alert so it's possible the campgrounds in the area will be full too.A news article:www.ktuu.com/fire-crews-responding-to-wildfire-near-parks-highwayHere's links to check for updates:http://akfireinfo.com/ http://511.alaska.gov/alaska511/mappingcomponent/indexhttp://afsmaps.blm.gov/imf_fire/imf.jsp?site=fire

I'm in Palmer and have seen some air tankers flying out. Also heard a lot of fire equipment going by earlier. The news photos show a lot of RVs stuck waiting on the highway. Hope everyone is OK. Willow has lots of dog teams.It's now at 1800 acres.

After the non-winter that Southcentral had, it's going to be a pretty grim fire season in the Southern region of AK this year. :(

12:30 a.m. , June 15 – The fast-moving Sockeye Fire, burning along the Parks Highway in the Willow area, is now estimated at 6,500 acres. The evacuation area has been expanded to cover the area from Milepost 63 to 77, and from three miles east of the Parks Highway and west to the Susitna River.The Parks Highway remains closed from Milepost 66 through 77. The Alaska Division of Forestry, Department of Transportation, and Alaska State Troopers are working together to reopen the highway as quickly as possible.Read more at:http://akfireinfo.com/

I have been trying to remember how long it has been since this area of the state burned. The Alaska forest burn about every 40 years from what I have read, some places more often and others less. SE Alaska, being it is a rain forest doesn't have forest fires so about the only place to harvest marketable sized timber. Most Alaska forest fires are started by lightning strikes in the summer time. The majority of them are just allowed to burn themselves out, if towns or property of value is not involved. Along the highways and near urban areas many of the fires are started by humans, in one way or the other.The policy of the BLM, Bureau of Land Management, is normally not to hire fire crews from close to the fires, too much temptation for some not to help get summer jobs going for themselves. I read that one of the Hot Shot fire crews is from Chena, up by Fairbanks.

sue.t, I for one applaud you for your constant updating, reporting and mentioning the web sites. Excellent work! We were in the area last summer about this time, and your info would have been so much appreciated. Thank you and have a great and safe day!

Parks Hwy closed north of Anchorage AK - WILDFIRE-June 14

14 Replies

2lazy4U
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
I've been at the Palmer airport watching hotshot crews arrive, as I'm staying nearby. Lots of smoke to the west and southwest, but not too bad here. They're asking people to stay off the Parks Hiway going north past Houston as it's apparently backed up for miles.
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
BTW, a new fire on the Kenai Peninsula

Here's the text from the alert:

A new fire has started near Sterling and is called the Card Street Fire, east of Kenai and Southwest of Anchorage. According to the Alaska Fire Service at around 3:30 p.m (June 15) the fire was about 75 acres. There were voluntary evacuations and smokejumpers has been ordered. Three structures have been lost. Updates will be posted as information becomes available

Note the fire has doubled in size and is now 150 acres and has jumped the Kenai Keys Road.

Here's a news article:
news/firefighters-battle-2-small-kenai-peninsula-wildfires
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
Amazing story of an incredible community of dog mushers caring for each other and their animals
how-willow-mushers-risked-everything-to-save-their-sled-dogs
sue_t
Explorer
Jun 16, 2015
This afternoon the highway closed again because the fire moved back to the highway. The fire is 0% contained within the entire perimeter and continues to be a major problem at the location it started.

Which is, BTW, just four miles from my friend's house. She's monitoring the scanner to keep up-to-date and is packed ready to evacuate. Her whole neighborhood has evacuated but she has chosen to stay back and is prepared to leave at a moment's notice. The Alaska State Troopers have her cell phone number to give her notice to go, if she hasn't already. She's been posting numerous pictures on facebook of the view from her house.

ON EDIT: my friend just posted that she is having to evacuate. The fire is heading north towards her place due to a shift in the wind. Emergency crews have also been moved further north due to the danger.
2lazy4U
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
I was just about three miles north of the Wasilla Airport at noon today. The smoke is bad. A sign said the Parks Hiway was closed at mile 64, but FB says they're using pilot cars and letting people through. If you're heading to Denali today, I wouldn't. Just the smoke inhalation alone will make it a tough trip, even if you do get through. The wait was over 30 minutes last I heard. That's a long time to sit in thick smoke. The Mat-Su Valley now has a smoky haze, but not too bad yet.

Now closed again.
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
Looking like Miller's Reach all over again!
2lazy4U
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
Thanks, Gary and Sue.
garyhaupt
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
For those that are following...here is a a Facebook link to the Agency involved.

https://www.facebook.com/AK.Forestry?fref=nf

The highway is now open with pilot car services. Some closures are still to be expected.

Gary Haupt
tonymull
Explorer
Jun 15, 2015
I have relatives attempting to save their houses and cabins in Willow. It's worse than the news is reporting with the potential for a really huge fast fire. Residents have been told that if fire crews cannot gain containment or lose containment by the time it reaches a large area of dead spruce (spruce beetle infestation that is widespread all over the west and northwest)that they are on their own as the crews themselves will be evacuated.
bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2015
sue.t, I for one applaud you for your constant updating, reporting and mentioning the web sites. Excellent work! We were in the area last summer about this time, and your info would have been so much appreciated. Thank you and have a great and safe day!