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Evacuation status to change for some areas impacted by Anderson Complex 

EVACUATION STATUS: Today the Denali Borough and state of Alaska will change the evacuation status for some areas impacted by fires in the Anderson Complex. The change will be made based on information from Great Basin Team 3. 

The borough has moved residents in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions from SET to READY. The City of Anderson remains in READY status. Individuals in this area should remain ready for possible evacuation.  

The borough and state have also moved the following areas out of READY status:  

• the City of Nenana 
• residents who access their property off the George Parks Highway corridor between milepost 288 and milepost 306 
• residents who access their property from the west side of the George Parks Highway between milepost 266 and milepost 270, including June Creek and Bear Creek 
• residents who access their property off the Parks Highway corridor from the Rex Bridge to milepost 280. 

The Teklanika River, all residents along the Teklanika River, all residents in Clear Sky homestead (not the Clear Sky Lodge), and residents adjacent to Rose Hip Creek remain in evacuation status GO. Individuals in this area should evacuate now. Do not delay. The Tri-Valley School is available for evacuation parking and will be available as an evacuation center, if needed.  

Visit the Denali Borough website for additional information. 

FIRE UPDATE: Five days of rainy, humid weather have reduced fire activity across the Anderson Complex. The Teklanika River Fire (#257), Shores Landing Fire (#325), Birch Creek Fire (#285) and Rock Creek Fire (#287) – previously the most active fires in the complex – have not seen significant growth since Aug. 6. Great Basin Team 3 has begun releasing some crews and equipment for assignment to other fires around the state. The team has been careful to retain the personnel and equipment needed to complete the work that still needs to be done. 

A Franco Type 2 hand crew continues to work in areas near the Teklanika River Fire and Shores Landing Fire. They are felling fire damaged trees, clearing brush and putting out hotspots. They are also evaluating pumps, hoses, and sprinklers that were set up to defend structures and allotments from the fires. In areas where the fires are no longer a threat, this equipment will be dismantled and returned to the fire cache for cleaning and any needed repairs so it can be used again. Firefighting equipment will be left in place in areas where the fires may still pose a threat. 

Crews in the Anderson-Nenana Group are doing similar work, removing and returning some firefighting equipment to the cache. The rest will remain in place until it is determined that the Shores Landing and Teklanika River fires are no longer a threat. The Anderson-Nenana Group and Clear Group also have initial attack responsibility for any new fires that start within the Anderson Complex. 

The Shasta Lake Hotshots are clearing trees that have fallen across roads in the Rose Hip Creek area to reopen access. The crew is also ensuring that the pumps, hoses and sprinklers they put in place to protect structures are still working. They will continue with mop up and structure protection today. 

Crews from Kobe, Anderson, Northstar, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire, K River 1 and Franco Reforestation are maintaining some of the sprinkler systems that have been set up around structures in the North Forties and Kobe Ag subdivisions. Sprinkler systems that are no longer needed are being removed. Dozer lines are in place to the north and east of the North Forties. Masticators have been used in several areas during the structure protection efforts in the North Forties, Kobe Ag and the City of Anderson. These pieces of heavy equipment are one tool used in fuels reduction work. They shred, chunk or chop vegetation and small trees to lower the risk of wildfire, improve forest health, and reduce erosion. 

Firefighters were able to fly around the perimeter of the Rock Creek Fire yesterday. They identified structures, allotments and other areas of importance that could be threatened by the fire. Plans are being developed to protect these sites should that become necessary. 

The Anderson Complex includes the Teklanika River Fire (#257), Birch Creek Fire (#285), Shores Landing Fire (#325), Rock Creek Fire (#287), Bear Creek Fire (#287), Kobe Road Fire (#297), Nenana River Fire (#288), and Nenana River 2 Fire (#289). 
 

WEATHER: Dense smoke will persist through this morning, with some clearing possible this evening. For more information about wildfire smoke visit https://akfireinfo.com/smoke-management/. Firefighting aircraft may be grounded due to reduced visibility. There is a chance of rain showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. However, the chance of more than a tenth of an inch of rain is low. Temperatures will be in the 70s, influenced by the smoke. 

CLOSURE: The City of Anderson has closed the shooting range until further notice for firefighter and public safety. Firefighters will be working in the area for the next several days. The campground and playground are still open.