Single Publication

Anderson Complex crews expect to see increased fire activity 

Warmer, dryer weather is forecast for the Anderson Complex area beginning today. Fire activity is expected to increase. In advance of this change in the weather, firefighters have spent the past several days working to protect structures along the Teklanika River; find and extinguish spot fires along the river; assess and improve fire breaks around the city of Anderson; and identify and assess structures in the Kobe Ag subdivision, Clear Sky subdivision, and Rose Hip Creek area. 

This work will continue today, with additional resources arriving to join the fight. 

The Midnight Sun and Lassen hotshots continue to protect structures from the Teklanika River Fire (#257) and snuff out spot fires along the river. The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Task Force will be back in the city of Anderson today, inspecting fire breaks and making improvements where needed. Residents are asked to give firefighters plenty of room to work. 

Firefighters aided by tracked vehicles known as skidgens will begin assessing structures in the North 40 subdivision today to implement a protection plan there. They will also scout and identify tactical options to keep the fire west of the Nenana River and protect infrastructure along the Parks Highway. 

The Shasta Lake Hotshots will continue to assess structures in the area of the Birch Creek Fire (#285) to determine appropriate protection tactics. They are also working to extinguish the 0.1-acre Kobe Road Fire, which is expected to be declared out at the end of today’s shift. 

The Anderson Complex includes the Teklanika River Fire (#257), Birch Creek Fire (#285), Kobe Road Fire (#297), Nenana River Fire (#288), and Nenana River Fire 2 (#289). The Nenana River and Nenana River Fire 2 are located inside the burn scar of the 2022 Clear Fire. The two fires are a combined at 0.3 acres in size with minimal activity and no growth reported. 

EVACUATION STATUS: The Teklanika River and all residents along the Teklanika River, and all residents in Clear Sky homestead (not the Clear Sky Lodge) and residents adjacent to Rose Hip Creek are 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. 

The city of Anderson and all residents that use any road west of the George Parks Highway between milepost 270 and the Rex Bridge are in Evacuation Status SET. Individuals in this area should be ready in a moment’s notice. 

Visit the Denali Borough website for additional information. 

CLOSURE: The Anderson Shooting Range and associated camping areas will be closed from Tuesday, Aug. 1, through Friday, Aug. 4, for firefighter and public safety. The brief closure will allow fire crews to complete work on a fuel break. 

COMMUNITY MEETING: Great Basin Team 3 will hold a community meeting at 

8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the Anderson Fire Station, 911 D Street. Representatives from the team and cooperating agencies will provide an update on the fire and answer questions from community members. The meeting will be streamed live on the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Facebook page for those who cannot attend in person.