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Bean Complex email: 2022.bean@firenet.gov; Tel. 503-894-6694

Bean Complex Update July 3, 2022

The Bean Complex fires are burning along the Tanana Valley west of Fairbanks extending to the Cosna River. The fires are burning primarily in black spruce, most in areas with no record of fire in the past 50 years. There are 224 people assigned to these fires.  Of the five fires in the 113,432 acre complex, four are under a “point zone protection” strategy. This means firefighters assess the risk to identified points like cabins and allotments, and take actions to protect them. This can include clearing vegetation, setting up pumps and sprinklers, and intentionally burning fuels to protect these values from an approaching fire.

Dense smoke over the entire complex yesterday served to moderate temperatures, relative humidity, and resultant fire behavior on all fires. Heavy smoke also prevented helicopter operations, increasing the logistic difficulties in transporting firefighters and resupplying operations. Firefighters have implemented a system for logistic support along the Tanana River using boats out of the Forward Operating Base at Manley Hot Springs.

·      The #327 Hutlinana Fire is under a “full suppression” strategy, where the objective is 100% control of the perimeter, and extensive mop up. The Hutlinana Fire has remained at 407 acres for several days and is 65% contained.

·      The #310 Tanana River Fire, 16,469 acres, in the Deadman’s Lake area, resources are working to protect approximately 37 structures, including firing operations as necessary. Firing operations at the Roadhouse are complete and risk to this historic structure has been mitigated. As weather and smoke conditions allow, firefighters are conducting extensive burning out along the east edge of the Tolovana River to keep the fire east of the river.

·      The #312 Bitzshitini Fire, 38,197 acres, has firing operations underway to secure the southern perimeter to protect 15 structures that have the potential to be impacted by the fire. The northwestern side of this fire is relatively inactive, the southwestern side is showing moderate activity.

·      The #315 Chitanana Fire, 51,540 acres, has continued cabin protection for 12 structures and Native Allotments within 5 miles of the fire. Firefighters are working to point protect cabins and allotments to the southwest of this fire. Firing operations are being conducted as necessary in this area. The fire is moving around the cabins with no major threats at this time. Crews are mopping up the area around the cabins. The fire has burned around the protected structures without damage.

·      The #343 Dragon Fire, 6,422 acres, has structure assessment and protection underway to protect four cabins around Mooseheart Lake approximately 6 miles southwest  of the fire.

Significant growth of all fires but Hutlinana is expected over the next several days. Given continued hot, dry weather with the threat of lightning on dry fuels, a  Red Flag Warning is in effect through Sunday for the fire area.

The State Forester for the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) issued an Emergency Burn Closure Order on July 1, 2022, at 11:59 pm ADST. It restricts all burning that requires a local or state burn permit, including uncontained cooking, warming, and signaling fires. The Alaska Department of Public Safety has restricted the use of fireworks across much of Alaska. Please refer to www.dps.alaska.gov to see if you’re impacted. With the present risk of thunderstorms, please do your part to prevent new fires. Any new ignitions will continue to impact available resources. Be very careful with off-highway vehicle travel or any other potential source of ignition.