6/25/15 2:30 pm Card Street Fire - Partial Lift of Skilak Recreation Closures

CONTACT:  Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

TELEPHONE:  (907) 262-7021 

E-Mail:  kenai@fws.gov

SUBJECT:  Reopening of the Eastern portion of Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area

Effective at noon today, Thursday June 25, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the following campgrounds within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area:

·       Hidden Lake Campground

·       Upper Skilak Campground

·       Engineer Lake Campground

·       Lower Ohmer Campground

·       Jean Lake Campground

·       Kelly Lake Campground

·       Peterson Lake Campground

·       Watson Lake Campground

All hiking trails in the eastern portion of the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area are also now open. These include Kenai River Trail, Hideout Trail, Hidden Creek Trail, Bear Mountain Trail, Vista Trail and Seven Lakes Trail.

Kelly Lake, Upper Ohmer, Engineer Lake and Doroshin Bay cabins will be open and available to the public beginning on Saturday, June 27.  Reservations are required for these cabins and can be made at www.recreation.gov

Skilak Lake Road is open from its East entrance at the Sterling Highway near Jim's Landing to the barricades at Milepost 9.4 just west of Engineer Lake. 

Due to the ongoing presence of fire personnel and equipment conducting suppression and mop-up activities on the Card Street Fire, Skilak Lake Road remains closed from its West entrance at the Sterling Highway to Milepost 9.4 just west of Engineer Lake.  Lower Skilak Campground and Boat Launch and Bottenintnin Lake day use area remain closed.  

Fire danger on the Kenai Peninsula remains high. All open camp, cooking and warming fires and use of charcoal and/or charcoal grills are prohibited on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.  Cooking stoves and gas grills may be used.

Refuge visitors are advised to closely monitor media sources for updates on fire activity in the area. Isolated pockets of heat and smoke may remain visible in the area.  Visitors are urged to only call 9-1-1 if there is an imminent threat to life or property.  

Regular updates can be found on the Refuge Facebook page at www.facebook.com/kenainationalwildliferefuge and the Kenai Peninsula Borough Virtual Joint Information Center at www.kpboem.com. 

For additional information, please contact the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge office during regular business hours at (907) 262-7021.