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Multiple Fires Burning Throughout Alaska

Thursday, 22 August 2019 16:52

Yukon Protective Services says smoke from the Alaska wildfires is being seen in some territorial communities.

According to the Alaska Fire Service, there are six prominent fires currently burning in the state of Alaska.

According to Alaska Fire Service Spokesperson Bridget Bushue, there are six prominent wildfires burning throughout the state of Alaska.

Bushue says the largest of the fires — the Swan Lake Fire — has been burning for several months in the southcentral portion of the state.

"The Swan Lake Fire is located in the Kenai area and stands at over 140,000 acres. The fire has been burning since June 5th. It's located right beside the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. That's the largest fire and it's impacting several communities in the immediate vicinity of it."

Bushue says there also is a couple fires burning around popular tourist attractions in Alaska.

"The Mckinley Fire is burning near Denali Park, which is very popular tourist destination. The fire is actively burning at 3700 acres  and we've had to evacuate several people from there. We've lost 80 structures on that fire. The fires currently burning on both sides of the park's highway — which is a major north-south corridor  between Anchorage and Fairbanks."

Bushue says sixty km/hour winds have helped  many of the prominent fires spread  in recent days.

The Alaska Deparment of Environmental Conservations issued an air quality advisory  for the Susitna Valley and Kenai Peninsula yesterday as well.

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