Final Update
September 30, 2019
Firefighters
working on the 167,164 acre Swan Lake
Fire have completed the majority of suppression repair work including
chipping brush piles and repairing containment lines built by dozers and crews.
The Swan Lake Fire remains 90% percent contained and smoke may be visible from
within the interior of the fire perimeter until there is significant
precipitation. The estimated containment date has been advanced to December 31,
2019 due to the deep pockets of duff and heavy fuels that will continue to
smolder and produce visible smoke in some locations for several weeks and
possibly months.
Access
routes to reopened facilities on the Kenai NWR pass through areas burned by the
Swan Lake Fire, and some of these facilities lie immediately adjacent to burned
habitats. Hazards within the burn include fire-weakened standing trees which
can fall without warning and deep ash pits holding residual heat capable of
causing severe burns. All lands burned by the fire within the Kenai National Wildlife
Refuge remain closed, and the public is urged to exercise caution in these
areas.
Both
the USDA Forest Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service both deployed
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams to assess the potential
post-wildfire hazards. Following a fire, the first priority is emergency
stabilization in order to prevent further damage to life, property or natural
resources on public lands. Rehabilitation focuses on the lands unlikely to
recover naturally from wildland fire damage. Implementation of the assessments
will begin this week.
Restrictions/Closures: An area closure remains in effect for
all refuge and national forest lands that have been burned. Skilak Lake Road is
open to provide access to Lower Skilak, Upper Skilak, and Jim’s Landing boat
launches and Bottenintnin Lake. Some recreation facilities in this area including
campgrounds, trails, and day-use areas remain closed. Conditions
will be re-evaluated for safety, but extensive repair may be needed before
reopening trails. Contact the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge visitor center by
calling 907-260-2820 or visiting https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kenai/ for more
information.
Temporary
Flight Restrictions (TFR): The TFR for the Swan Lake Fire (9/9687 NOTAM) was lifted at 9 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019.
Cooperating Agencies: US Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Alaska Division of
Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Alaska State Parks, Kenai Peninsula Borough,
Central Emergency Services, Cooper Landing Volunteer Fire Department, Alaska
State Troopers, Alaska Department of Transportation, Alaska Department of Fish
& Game.
This will be
the last update for the Swan Lake Fire unless significant activity occurs. Additional
information can be found on the links listed below or call Alaska Division of
Forestry, Public Information Officer Tim Mowry at (907)-356 -5511.
Public Information Phone: (907) 356 -5511 Kenai
Peninsula Borough: http://kpboem.com/
For printable version of Fact Sheet click here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/AKKKS/2019-06-12-1534-Swan-Lake/related_files/pict20190830-170208-0.pdf
For printable version of Map click here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/AKKKS/2019-06-12-1534-Swan-Lake/related_files/2019_09_30-17.03.51.032-CDT.pdf
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