(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – The Isom Creek Fire (#187) did not grow despite dry thunderstorm activity with strong winds on the ridge tops Sunday. An increase in relative humidity is helping firefighters make large gains on containment, which is now estimated at 44%. Crews are slogging up extremely steep terrain to close the remaining gap on the west side of the fireline near the sharp bend in Hovercraft Road. Air tankers continue to support crews working on the active eastern edge of the fire. The Alaska Incident Management Black Team is collaborating with agencies to evaluate the best tactics for fire management in this area. Agencies approved using Blazetamer380, a water-enhancing fire suppression additive dropped from air tankers, to support containment efforts on that side of the fire. Crews are working south from the Yukon River to establish a line ahead of the east side of the fire, to connect with another crew working north from a high point firefighters refer to as the Sound of Music Knob, near milepost 36 on the Dalton Highway. Firefighters working along the Yukon River are documenting and implementing protection needs for Native allotments in the area. 
 

Forecasted southeast winds are expected to improve conditions for firefighters to strengthen the southern perimeter today. They are planning to burn green areas inside the fireline, if conditions allow. This will reduce the chance of these pockets of dry vegetation to ignite in windy weather and spot outside the fire perimeter. Vegetation is likely to become drier in the next few days and more prone to ignition as ample sunshine is forecast through the early afternoons. Thunderstorm activity is possible later in the afternoons, with lightning and strong, gusty, erratic wind in the vicinity of storm cells.  
 

The Dalton Highway remains open to travel, with traffic control as needed for smoke conditions or in support of firefighting efforts. Use extreme caution between mileposts 34-62 by driving slowly with headlights on. Be prepared for low visibility, firefighting personnel and equipment along the roadway. Do not stop on the highway. Please use turnouts outside of mileposts 34-62. 
 

The Yukon River Camp north of the Yukon River Bridge at milepost 56 is open for food, fuel and lodging. The fire reached the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, however, it remains undamaged as it was designed to withstand wildfires. 
 

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire and some of the surrounding area to provide a safe operating environment for firefighting aircraft. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for more information on the TFR. 
 

Public Information: (907) 356-5970 Email: 2020.IsomCreek@firenet.gov 

www.akfireinfo.com ♦ inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6758 ♦ www.facebook.com/BLMAFS/ 

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – A Red Flag Warning was issued Sunday for extreme fire weather due to persistent hot and dry conditions in the area. Erratic winds are likely in the afternoon, generated by predicted thunderstorm activity over the region. Collapsing thunderheads could provide strong downdrafts in the vicinity of the Isom Creek Fire (#187), creating favorable conditions for rapid fire growth. Aircraft and helicopters continue to assist firefighters on the ground as they work on the most active part of the fire on eastern perimeter. Firefighters will closely monitor weather conditions throughout the day and be ready for sudden changes in fire behavior and spread.

The fire size was last estimated at 12,024 acres, an increase of 968 acres since June 12. With the fire growth, containment slightly lowered to an estimated 26%. The eastern fire front is moving into brushy vegetation in the Waldron Creek area, which previously burned in 2004. Crews on the southern and western edges of the fire continue to hold and reinforce the fire lines around Native allotments, near the Dalton Highway, and in the vicinity of Hovercraft Road. Continued work is needed in these areas to prevent fire spread during the extreme fire weather forecast for today.

The Dalton Highway remains open to travel, with traffic control as needed for smoke conditions or in support of firefighting efforts. Drivers need to use extreme caution between mileposts 34-62 by driving slowly with headlights on. Be prepared for low visibility, firefighting personnel and equipment along the roadway. Do not stop on the highway. Please use turnouts outside of mileposts 34-62. The Yukon River Camp north of the Yukon River Bridge at milepost 56 is open for food, fuel and lodging. The fire reached the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, however, it remains undamaged as it was designed to withstand wildfires.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire and some of the surrounding area to provide a safe operating environment for firefighting aircraft. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for more information on the TFR.

Additional Incident Information
Email: 2020.IsomCreek@firenet.gov
Phone: (907) 356-5970 
 
Statewide Fire Information
www.akfireinfo.com
Facebook.com/BLMAFS/  

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – An earlier than usual wind shift during a burn out operation on the Isom Creek Fire (#187) brought heavy smoke over the Dalton Highway near milepost 46 late Friday evening. Firefighters halted the burn operation and crews patrolled for and extinguished spot fires over the line. Water scooping aircraft and helicopters with water dropping buckets assisted ground forces. Firefighters and Alaska Division of Forestry engines patrolled the highway throughout the night, holding traffic occasionally when visibility was limited. An early morning reconnaissance flight showed the fire crossed over the saw line, but remains east of the highway. While there were delays for traffic, the road remained open.

During the day yesterday, favorable winds assisted firefighting efforts as crews mopped up and secured firelines around Native allotments and along the Dalton Highway and Hovercraft Road. Mop-up operations have resulted in 30 percent containment of the fire. To achieve containment, fire crews repeatedly gridded a 100 foot wide swath in the burned area along the fire’s perimeter and extinguished all traces of heat, to insure the fire will not cross into the unburned vegetation along the two-track trail, locally known as Hovercraft Road. Patrols on the river extinguished hot spots along the riverbank to ensure the fire will not spot across the Yukon River. Mop up was completed on the allotment about 8 miles up the river from the Dalton Highway Bridge where firefighters successfully protected the cabin. The fire was mapped at 11,665 acres Friday afternoon.

Today, firefighters will reassess their sawline that extends to the east from milepost 46 towards the 2004 Waldron Creek burned area. Crews will continue to secure and improve firelines along the highway. Squads of firefighters will move further upriver to implement structure protection measures on allotments. It will be another hot and dry day at the fire with a forecast of northeast winds and a chance of isolated thunderstorms.

The Dalton Highway is open. Travelers can expect flaggers, a pilot car and fire engines controlling traffic as needed. Drivers need to use extreme caution between mileposts 34-62 by driving slow with their headlights on. Be prepared for low visibility, firefighting personnel and equipment along the roadway. Do not stop on the highway. Please utilize turnouts outside of mileposts 34-62. The Yukon River Camp north of the Yukon River Bridge at milepost 56 is open for food, fuel and lodging. The fire reached the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, however, it remains undamaged as it was designed to withstand wildfires.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire and some of the surrounding area to provide a safe operating environment for firefighting aircraft. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for more information on the TFR.

Additional Incident Information
Email: 2020.IsomCreek@firenet.gov
Phone: (907) 356-5970
Statewide Fire Information: www.akfireinfo.com & Facebook.com/BLMAFS/ 
 

EVENING UPDATE

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – A change in the wind direction and an increase in fire activity this evening is pushing smoke from the Isom Creek Fire (#187) over the Dalton Highway reducing visibility on the road between mileposts 34-46. Firefighters and Forestry engines will be controlling traffic into the night until it is safe for travelers. Drivers need to use extreme caution when driving through the area. Please watch for firefighters and equipment. Follow their directions. Expect delays.

For more information about the fire email 2020.isomcreek@firenet.gov, call (907) 356-5907 or go to www.facebook.com/BLMAFS/ 

(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – Westerly winds continued to help and hinder firefighters on the Isom Creek Fire Thursday. Winds pushed the fire away from the Dalton Highway, allowing firefighting crews to continue increasing the width of their firelines along the highway and the Hovercraft Road. Those same winds on the eastern side pushed the fire into the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Squads of firefighters are moving upriver, identifying and starting structure protection measures on Native allotments.. The fire was estimated yesterday afternoon to be 10,844 acres with 10 percent containment.

Very warm, dry weather is forecast for today with light and variable winds. There is also a good chance of isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon and late into the evening. These storms will bring lightning and gusty, erratic winds but the only chance for a wetting rain is directly under a cell.  Fire managers will keep that in mind as they scout locations for indirect fireline construction from milepost 46 east and north to the Yukon River. The expected increase in fire activity today will lead to smoke impacting the area and nearby Stevens Village.

The Dalton Highway is open. Travelers can expect flaggers and a pilot car operating between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. as needed if the fire impacts the highway. Drivers need to use extreme caution between mileposts 44-62 by driving slow with their headlights on. Be prepared for low visibility, firefighting personnel and equipment along the roadway. Do not stop on the highway. Please utilize turnouts outside of mileposts 44-62. The Yukon River Camp north of the Yukon River Bridge at milepost 56 is open for food, fuel and lodging. The fire reached the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, however, it remains undamaged as it was designed to withstand wildfires.

All firefighters are briefed daily on safe practices for operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personnel are wearing facemasks when in close proximity and are maintaining social distancing. Crews are camping separate from each other to minimize exposure. Fresh food boxes are delivered every three days for each crew to prepare their own meals.

Changes have been made to the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place over the fire and some of the surrounding area to provide a safe operating environment for firefighting aircraft. Go to https://tfr.faa.gov for more information on the TFR.

FAIRBANKS, AK — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Central Yukon Field Office has temporarily closed public access to the Five Mile Campground located five miles north of the Yukon River bridge on the Dalton Highway. The closure is necessary to accommodate firefighters using the campground as they fight the Isom Creek Fire.

Entering the campground beyond the artesian well on the north side of the campground driveway is now prohibited without authorization from the BLM. Dalton Highway visitors may still use the artesian well, provided such use does not interfere with firefighter access to the campground. The temporary closure is effective until such time as occupancy of the campground by firefighting forces is no longer required.

For more information about this closure order, including the public lands involved, contact Craig McCaa (907-474-2231; cmccaa@blm.gov) or Tim Hammond (907-474-2210; thammond@blm.gov). For information on fire restrictions in Interior Alaska and statewide, contact the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center at 907-356-5511 or visit akfireinfo.com. The BLM website also includes a list of current fire restrictions for BLM-managed public lands in Alaska. Information on the Isom Creek Fire is available by contacting 2020.IsomCreek@firenet.gov or calling 907-356-5970. 
 
 

 Southwest winds pushed the Isom Creek Fire away from the Dalton Highway allowing firefighting crews to secure and improve their firelines along the highway and Hovercraft Road. Firefighters were able to clean up from previous burn outs by burning pockets of black spruce that were left behind along their constructed fireline. By removing these, it limits the fire’s ability to cross their lines. Because of those same winds, the fire grew considerably on the eastern side forcing personnel to burn out around an allotment as the fire approached. The sprinkler system was activated keeping the structure safe. The fire was estimated yesterday afternoon to be 10,618 acres with 10 percent containment.

Warm, dry weather is forecast for today with west, northwest winds gusting to 15 miles per hour. Fire managers will keep that in mind as they scout locations for indirect fireline construction from milepost 46 east and north to the Yukon River. Squads of firefighters will continue to travel up river, east of the fire, identifying allotments and starting protection measures. The weather going into the weekend is expected to be hotter and dryer. Isolated thunderstorms are also expected to bring small amounts of rain, gusty and erratic winds, which could lead to significant fire activity producing smoke in the area and nearby Stevens Village.

The Dalton Highway is open. Travelers can expect flaggers and a pilot car operating between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. as needed if the fire impacts the highway. Drivers need to use extreme caution between mileposts 44-62 by driving slow with their headlights on. Be prepared for low visibility, firefighting personnel and equipment along the roadway. Do not stop on the highway. Please utilize turnouts outside of mileposts 44-62. The Yukon River Camp north of the Yukon River Bridge at milepost 56 is open for food, fuel and lodging. The fire reached the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, however, it remains undamaged as it was designed to withstand wildfires.

The Alaska Type 2 Incident Management Black Team assumed command this morning to coordinate efforts protecting Native allotments, minimizing impacts to the highway and pipeline corridors.

Location:  Uvas Mountains on BLM Land, approximately 11 miles SW of Hatch, NM and 18 miles N of Interstate 10 between Deming and Las Cruces, NM.  
Date detected:  June 6, 2020                        
Cause:  Lightning                
Vegetation:  Grass, Brush, Pinon, Juniper 
Current size: 1,135 acres (increase of 5 acres from previous reports is due to more accurate mapping)
Percent contained: 80%
 
Summary: The Uvas Fire was started by lightning from a thunderstorm that moved over the southern portion of New Mexico on the evening of June 5th. The fire was detected the next day, as smoke became very visible from Hatch and travelers along I-10, and I-25. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted as BLM fire engines mobilized to the area.   
 
When first detected, the fire was burning along the top of the mountain range at an elevation of 6500 ft., surrounded by steep, rugged terrain.  
 
Resources: 2 Engines with 6 firefighters, Type 3 Helicopter with 4 personnel. 

FINAL UPDATE: The Uvas Fire has not grown for several days and is now 80% contained. Firefighters have done excellent work in containing the fire and will continue working towards full containment. The resources listed above will remain assigned to this incident. The helicopter and crew will assist firefighters by conducting water drops on hot spots. They will also monitor remote, inaccessible portions of the fire during the next several days. The Uvas Fire did receive light precipitation during yesterday afternoon’s widespread thunderstorm activity over southern New Mexico. 

Location:  Uvas Mountains on BLM Land, approximately 11 miles SW of Hatch, NM and 18 miles N of Interstate 10 between Deming and Las Cruces, NM.  
Date detected:  June 6, 2020                        
Cause:  Lightning                
Vegetation:  Grass, Brush, Pinon, Juniper 
Current size: 1,135 acres (increase of 5 acres from previous reports is due to more accurate mapping)
Percent contained: 75%
 
Summary: The Uvas Fire was started by lightning from a thunderstorm that moved over the southern portion of New Mexico on the evening of June 5th. The fire was detected the next day, as smoke became very visible from Hatch and travelers along I-10, and I-25. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted as BLM fire engines mobilized to the area.   
 
When first detected, the fire was burning along the top of the mountain range at an elevation of 6500 ft., surrounded by steep, rugged terrain.  
 
Resources: 2 Engines with 6 firefighters, Type 3 Helicopter with 4 personnel and two additional firefighting personnel. 
 
Today: The Uvas Fire has had no growth for several days and is now 75% contained. Firefighters will continue their work on full containment of the fire. The helicopter and crew are assigned to the incident and will be assisting firefighters on the ground by conducting water drops on hot spots. They will also monitor remote, inaccessible portions of the fire during the next several days. Yesterday afternoon's reconnaissance flight with the helicopter did confirm widespread thunderstorm and lightning activity over southern New Mexico. 
 
Smoke emissions are barely visible, if at all. Occasionally light drift smoke may be visible from from:  Hatch, Las Cruces and surrounding areas, as well as I-10 (between Deming and Las Cruces) and I-25 (south of T or C).
 
Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority on the Uvas Fire. 
 
For additional information, please visit or call the following: 
•  Uvas Fire Information phone line:  575-525-4360
•  Uvas Fire on INCIWEB at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
•  Uvas Fire on NMFIREINFO at https://nmfireinfo.com/

Location:  Uvas Mountains on BLM Land, approximately 11 miles SW of Hatch, NM and 18 miles N of Interstate 10 between Deming and Las Cruces, NM.  
Date detected:  June 6, 2020                       
Cause:  Lightning               
Vegetation:  Grass, Brush, Pinon, Juniper 
Current size: 1,135 acres (increase of 5 acres from previous reports is due to more accurate mapping)
Percent contained: 75%
 
Summary: The Uvas Fire was started by lightning from a thunderstorm that moved over the southern portion of New Mexico on the evening of June 5th. The fire was detected the next day, as smoke became very visible from Hatch and travelers along I-10, and I-25. An aerial reconnaissance flight was conducted as BLM fire engines mobilized to the area. 
 
When first detected, the fire was burning along the top of the mountain range at an elevation of 6500 ft., surrounded by steep, rugged terrain.
   
Resources: 2 Engines with 6 firefighters, Type 3 Helicopter with 4 personnel and two additional firefighting personnel. 
 
Today: Transfer of command from a Type 3 Organization to a Type 4 Organization occurred this morning. Firefighters continued their work on containment of the fire. A helicopter and crew arrived today and will be assisting firefighters on the ground by conducting water drops on hot spots. They will also monitor remote, inaccessible portions of the fire during the next several days. Afternoon thunderstorms with lightning did emerge over southern New Mexico, including the Uvas Fire. A reconnaissance flight with the helicopter was planned for late afternoon.
 
Although smoke emissions from the fire have lessened significantly, light drift smoke may still be visible from:  Hatch, Las Cruces and surrounding areas, as well as I-10 (between Deming and Las Cruces) and I-25 (south of T or C).
 
Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority on the Uvas Fire. 
 
For additional information, please visit or call the following: 
• Uvas Fire Information phone line:  575-525-4360
• Uvas Fire on INCIWEB at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
• Uvas Fire on NMFIREINFO at https://nmfireinfo.com/