SUMMARY: There was little activity on the fire yesterday as cloud cover and a shorter burn period once again
moderated fire behavior. Seeding operations to prevent erosion and mitigate the threat of invasive weeds in soils
disturbed by dozer lines continued. Helicopter water drops were used to cool an area of heat above Upper Jean
Lake to slow the progress of the fire toward the Sterling Highway. Fire and land managers and cooperating
agencies briefed Senator Lisa Murkowski on the fire response, the long term effects and benefits of the fire, and
the effectiveness of the ongoing fuel mitigation projects in the area.
There is no immediate threat to values in the area, however, some area closures remain in effect. Natural fire on the landscape tends to burn in a mosaic pattern, removing areas of highly flammable black spruce as well as smoldering through mixed spruce and hardwoods. This will not only reduce the potential for future large-scale fire impacts but also leave a diverse network of habitat types that meet the needs of a variety of different wildlife within the fire area.
Drought codes are still very high and the fire is burning deep in ground fuels. It will take a substantial amount of precipitation to penetrate to the deeper duff layers. Fire personnel will continue to monitor fire activity and take further suppression action where necessary.
WEATHER: Warm temperatures are expected today with light westerly winds. Temperatures will cool tonight and into Friday as northwesterly winds bring in a cooler and drier air mass that will lower relative humidity values and diminish cloud cover. Strong northwest winds are possible this weekend and afternoon humidities could also drop into the 25-30% range with this pattern change. This change in wind direction could transport more smoke into Cooper Landing and the Kenai River corridor over the weekend.
SAFETY: Smoke from the fire is visible from the Sterling Highway between mileposts 65 and 75. Motorists are advised to slow down, be alert for other drivers potentially distracted by fire operations, and use caution driving through the fire area. For current road conditions visit http://www.alaskanavigator.org/projects/sterling- highway-rehabilitation-skilak-lake-sterling. A virtual joint information center (VJIC) has been set up online at www.kpboem.com for public information.
AIR QUALITY: The Kenai Refuge has set up sensors to monitor air quality in the fire area. Data from monitors in Cooper Landing can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y3rsbkr5. The monitor in Sterling can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y5ens5fv.
CLOSURE INFORMATION: Due to ongoing fire activity in the area, Refuge Managers have closed the following access routes within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to the public: Mystery Creek Road and the Enstar Pipeline right-of-way north from the refuge boundary east of Sterling. Questions or requests for copies of the closure order or maps should be directed to the Refuge at (907) 262-7021. People with recreational-related questions should contact the Refuge visitor center at (907) 260-2820.
There is no immediate threat to values in the area, however, some area closures remain in effect. Natural fire on the landscape tends to burn in a mosaic pattern, removing areas of highly flammable black spruce as well as smoldering through mixed spruce and hardwoods. This will not only reduce the potential for future large-scale fire impacts but also leave a diverse network of habitat types that meet the needs of a variety of different wildlife within the fire area.
Drought codes are still very high and the fire is burning deep in ground fuels. It will take a substantial amount of precipitation to penetrate to the deeper duff layers. Fire personnel will continue to monitor fire activity and take further suppression action where necessary.
WEATHER: Warm temperatures are expected today with light westerly winds. Temperatures will cool tonight and into Friday as northwesterly winds bring in a cooler and drier air mass that will lower relative humidity values and diminish cloud cover. Strong northwest winds are possible this weekend and afternoon humidities could also drop into the 25-30% range with this pattern change. This change in wind direction could transport more smoke into Cooper Landing and the Kenai River corridor over the weekend.
SAFETY: Smoke from the fire is visible from the Sterling Highway between mileposts 65 and 75. Motorists are advised to slow down, be alert for other drivers potentially distracted by fire operations, and use caution driving through the fire area. For current road conditions visit http://www.alaskanavigator.org/projects/sterling- highway-rehabilitation-skilak-lake-sterling. A virtual joint information center (VJIC) has been set up online at www.kpboem.com for public information.
AIR QUALITY: The Kenai Refuge has set up sensors to monitor air quality in the fire area. Data from monitors in Cooper Landing can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y3rsbkr5. The monitor in Sterling can be found at https://tinyurl.com/y5ens5fv.
CLOSURE INFORMATION: Due to ongoing fire activity in the area, Refuge Managers have closed the following access routes within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge to the public: Mystery Creek Road and the Enstar Pipeline right-of-way north from the refuge boundary east of Sterling. Questions or requests for copies of the closure order or maps should be directed to the Refuge at (907) 262-7021. People with recreational-related questions should contact the Refuge visitor center at (907) 260-2820.
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