Copper Center, Alaska- The Alaska Division of Forestry (DOF) and National Park Service (NPS) fire personnel initiated a full suppression of the southwest flank of the fire at 5:00pm on May 31st. The initial attack included two Air Tanker dropping water and a five man Helitack Crew on-scene deploying pumps and hoses to begin securing the southwest flank. The 20 man Type 2 Gannite Glacier Initial Attack crew is on-site and a 16 man Type 2 crew is arriving early this afternoon.
The fire is estimated to have burned 800 to 1,000 acres. Smoke is visible from the communities of Kennecott, McCarthy and Chitina. The McCarthy Road is open and there are no driving restrictions at this time. For those who fly in the vicinity, be aware of fire related helicopter and fixed-wing traffic and the possibility of sudden decreased visibility. The local victor frequency is 122.9.
For additional information, visit https://www.nps.gov/wrst/parkmgmt/currentfireinfo.htm or contact WRST PIO Mark Keogh at 907-822-7223. For Statewide Wildfire information, go to: http://fire.ak.blm.gov/
-NPS -
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
