Fires kick up throughout Alaska in August

Late summer rains and cooler temperatures, usually the norm for Interior Alaska, did not materialize this year, allowing wildlands fires to continue burning and spreading throughout the region in August.

According to state and federal fire reports posted Sept. 3, a total of 6,378,692 acres of land in Alaska has burned during this summer's wildlands fires, reportedly the most ever in a single season.

Statewide, 648 fires were reported and more than 80 fires remain active, even in early September when fire crews typically shift their efforts to work on fires in the Lower 48.

The amount of burned land in Alaska equals 9,966 square miles, a land mass greater in size than Maryland, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts or New Jersey. It's twice the size of Connecticut.

The impact has been felt throughout the region, not just in the active fire areas in Interior and the northeastern parts of Alaska.

Smoke crosses Alaska-Yukon border

Smoke drifted across the border to western Canada, hindering work there by NovaGold Resources.

"There have been significant problems this summer in Western Canada and Alaska … with forest fires and the resulting smoke," the company said in its second quarter report, released in late July. "This has delayed and disrupted activities at our Galore Creek, Brewery Creek and Ambler properties."

Disruptions at Galore Creek, in northwestern British Columbia, and at the Ambler property, in northwestern Alaska, were mainly related to the availability of helicopters, the company said.

More significant was the early termination of a $500,000 drill program at Brewery Creek in the Yukon. Crews stopped work there early "due to the fires that extended several times onto the property and, pending drill results, the company may resume drilling at Brewery Creek in the fall or next year," NovaGold said.

"The company does not currently expect that these disruptions will materially affect its exploration program," the statement said.

Pogo area remains smoky

One exploration project that has been dramatically affected by the fires and resulting smoke is Freegold Venture's Rob prospect near the Pogo gold mine being built about 40 miles northeast of Delta Junction, in Interior Alaska.

Companies interested in optioning the property were prevented from traveling to Rob several times this summer because of smoke and flight limitations, according to Freegold consultant Curt Freeman.

"We got skunked twice on getting folks out to the Rob project in the Goodpaster," he said, on Aug. 31. "Interest has picked up on this project since Pogo permitting was approved so property visits by prospective JV partners has increased."

Trips planned in August were scratched, due to the smoke, and total lost time was five man-days, Freeman said.

"One may try again in September but he other will not be able to go out until next year, if the property is available," he said. "All the companies think like I do in this respect - if I have not set foot on a property, I can't recommend it as an acquisition."

Smoke causing those flight cancellations is from the Camp Creek fire, recently reported at 174,000 acres. It continues to smolder in the Pogo area, after starting in late June and threatening that construction site and burning through an exploration camp about five miles to the west.

"The southwest area of the fire will receive more direct line construction work on it with burnout as needed," fire managers said in the Sept. 3 report. Assets assigned to this fire include a Type 2 Incident Management team, seven crews, three helicopters, three engines, six dozers, four water tenders and 254 personnel, according to the fire report.

Fire managers had previously reported that fire 100 percent contained.

Temporary flight restrictions were in place for that Camp Creek fire area near Delta, as well as near the eastern Interior Alaska community of Tok, thanks to the Taylor Highway complex of fires.

Eastern group of fires surpass one million acres

The Taylor complex of fires, also burning through active mining areas, has consumed more than 1.3 million acres of land. According to the Sept. 3 fire report, rehabilitation operations continue west of the Taylor Highway near the Porcupine drainage. Crews and equipment released from other fires in Alaska are being sent to battle these blazes.

Fire fighting assets include 14 crews, five helicopters, 17 engines, one water tender and 428 personnel.

The Taylor complex includes areas affecting the historic Fortymile Mining district just west of the Alaska-Yukon border, south of Eagle and north of Tok. State records show 46 active placer mining operations in that region.

Fires burning in Circle Mining district

Another historic, yet active, mining area in Alaska impacted by this summer's fire activity is the Circle Mining district along the Steese Highway some 100 miles northeast of Fairbanks.

The Central complex of fires, estimated at 451,162 acres, continues to burn in that area, causing some temporary road closures in past weeks. Rehabilitation work has begun on dozer lines near Circle Hot Springs subdivision and along Homestead/Crazy Mountain Road, according to the fire report. Engines continue to patrol the Steese Highway from Eagle Summit to 12 Mile Bridge.

An Alaskan Type 3 Incident Management Team is assigned to this complex of fires, along with two crews, two helicopters, five engines, six dozers and 101 personnel.