7/5/19 SWAN LAKE FIRE MORNING UPDATE

For Swan Lake Fire information call: (208) 391-3488

For a pdf version of this update that you can print or email, click here. 

                                                         Community Meeting Tonight

Friday, July 5, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Cooper Landing School, 19030 Bean Creek Road, Cooper Landing, Alaska.

All suppression efforts are based on firefighter and public safety principles. Fire behavior continues to be active, with hot and dry conditions and low humidity. Additional resources continue to arrive daily to support suppression efforts for the Swan Lake Fire. On the east end of the fire, multiple indirect containment opportunities are identified to minimize impacts to the Sterling Highway. Existing containment lines continue to hold. The Chickaloon and Mystery Creek drainages continue to be active where fuel conditions allow. Crews continue to mop-up and secure the established line north of the Homer Electric transmission line, which experienced fire activity in the interior green areas. Crews along the East Fork Moose River continue mopping up and are ensuring perimeter security. Remote sites to the north and northwest have fire-fighting personnel and have structure protection in place. Resources continue to support the local initial attack efforts as requested by local units. Night shift is patrolling the Sterling Highway and monitoring smoke conditions. If smoke becomes hazardous on the highway, the Alaska Department of Transportation and the Alaska State Troopers evaluate the driving conditions to determine the need for traffic control. 

Residents are encouraged to take this opportunity to ensure their property is Firewise. For information about Firewise Communities and how to increase defensible space around your property, please visit http://forestry.alaska.gov/fire/firewise.

Campfires are restricted to enclosed fire rings/grates within designated campgrounds/cabins within the Kenai NWR, Kenai Fjords NP, Kenai Peninsula State Parks and Chugach NF lands on the Kenai Peninsula.

WEATHER: Temperatures will remain extremely hot and dry and continue to be in the low 90’s for the foreseeable future. Winds will be coming generally from the north with a high pressure system holding the smoke lower on the ground. Smoke remains a health and safety concern.  For smoke forecasts from Alaska wildfires, visit UAFSMOKE at http://smoke.alaska.edu.

SAFETY: Construction continues along the Sterling Highway. Firefighters continue to patrol the area and construction workers are present. Please use lights and caution when driving. If visibility is reduced due to nighttime inversions with low visibility, traffic delays may be possible.  For current road conditions visit http://511.alaska.gov. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has expanded to include the western portion of the Chugach National Forest and still includes the Sterling Highway corridor to support suppression efforts and firefighter safety. Pilots can confirm the current TFR restrictions at http://tfr.faa.gov. Personal drone operation is not permitted on the refuge.

KENAI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE INFORMATION:  The following areas remain closed: Watson Lake CG, Peterson Lake CG, Kelly Lake CG, Jean Lake CG, Mystery Creek Road, Skyline Trail and Seven Lakes Trail, Kelly Lake Cabin, Trapper Joe Cabin, Big Indian Cabin, East Fork Moose River, Watson Lake, Kelly Lake, Peterson Lake, Jean Lake and Bottenintin Lake.  Contact the Refuge Visitor Center at 907-260-2820 or online at http://kenai.fws.gov.  

For a version of the map that you can print or email, click here. 

For a version of air quality information that you can print or email, click here. 

For a version of the Swan Lake fire progression map that you can print or email, click here.