Exceptional Events Waiver Request For Exceptional PM2.5 Events Air Quality Division June 18 - 28, Air Monitoring July 1 - 31, and & Quality Assurance August 8, 2015 Program in the Fairbanks North Star 555 Cordova St. Anchorage, AK 99501 Borough, Alaska Phone: (907) 269-7577 Fax: (907) 269-7508 -Appendix A- dec.alaska.gov/air Media Coverage February 15, 2018 Appendix A Contents Trout Fire on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Showing Signs of Life - June 22 .......................... 1 Lightning storm sparks several wildfires in Denali National Park and Preserve - June 23 .......................... 2 Updated: Interior Alaska fires spread, threaten homes, villages - June 24 ................................................... 4 List of notable fires burning in Interior Alaska - June 25 ............................................................................. 8 Rain this weekend does not mean fires are over - June 27 ......................................................................... 10 Southwest Area Fire update - July 5 ........................................................................................................... 12 Baker Fire update - July 7 ........................................................................................................................... 13 Interior Alaska wildfires blow up in near-record temperatures - July 7 ..................................................... 14 Lake Minchumina Structure Protection update - July 7.............................................................................. 17 Anaconda Creek Fire and West Fork Fire update - July 9 .......................................................................... 18 Galena Zone Fires update - July 9 .............................................................................................................. 20 BLM Closes Nome Creek Valley again update - July 11 ........................................................................... 22 Alaska wildfires still growing, now fifth worst year on record - July 13 ................................................... 25 Yukon Flats wildland fire roundup Monday - July 13 ................................................................................ 27 Manley Area Fires; update - July 15 ........................................................................................................... 30 Yukon Flats wildland fire roundup Thursday - July 16 .............................................................................. 32 Aggie Creek Fire update - July 16 .............................................................................................................. 37 Tok Area Fires update - July 18 .................................................................................................................. 38 Tok Area Fires Update - July 21 ................................................................................................................. 40 Tanana Area Fire updates - July 26 ............................................................................................................ 42 Denali National Park and Preserve Monitoring 13 Wildfires - July 27 ...................................................... 46 Tanana Area Fire updates - July 28 ............................................................................................................ 49 Tanana Area Fire updates - July 29 ............................................................................................................ 53 Tanana Area Fire updates - July 29 ............................................................................................................ 56 Tanana area fires update - July 30 .............................................................................................................. 59 Appendix A i Trout Fire on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Showing Signs of Life - June 22 June 22, 2015 by Alaska National Park Service on Trout Fire on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Showing Signs of Life EAGLE, Alaska: The Trout Fire, which had no visible smokes for a couple of weeks, has come back to life and is now creating some smoke due to the hot, dry and windy conditions in Interior Alaska. The fire is in monitor status, and its acreage is unchanged at 376 acres. At this time it does not pose a threat to the community of Eagle, nor to any structures within the Preserve. It was ignited on May 24th by a lightning strike. There will be no additional updates on the Trout Fire until conditions change significantly. The Seventy Mile Fire burning south of the Preserve was also ignited by lightning in late May, and is currently mapped at 2902 acres. Eagle residents may see fire personnel in the area as the fire is receiving additional staffing. It currently poses no threat to Eagle. Additional park information is available on the web at www.nps.gov/yuch or by calling the Eagle Visitor Center between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at (907) 459-3730. Appendix A 1 Lightning storm sparks several wildfires in Denali National Park and Preserve - June 23 June 23, 2015 by Alaska National Park Service on Lightning storm sparks several wildfires in Denali National Park and Preserve DENALI PARK, Alaska: Following a lightning storm that threw over 31,000 lightning strikes from June 19 – June 21, five wildfires are now burning in remote locations in Denali National Park and Preserve. None of the wildfires are threatening park structures or sensitive resources. Due to the remote locations, fire managers have opted to monitor these fires. The largest and most active wildfire in Denali National Park is the 1,500 acre Iron Wildfire. Spotted from a Kantishna Air Taxi pilot on the evening of June 20. Under the very hot and dry conditions, extreme fire behavior was observed with aggressive crown runs. Smoke may be visible from Turtle Hills. June 21 Observations: The Foraker River was burning approximately 28 miles southwest of Wonder Lake. It was approximately 50 acres, actively running and torching in black spruce. At approximately 10 acres, burning in black spruce, the McLeod Wildfire was actively growing around 80 percent of its perimeter. A fourth fire was spotted near the upper reaches of the Highpower Creek. Further information will be provided when available. June 22 Observations: On June 22, a fifth fire was reported five miles Northwest of Kantishna. The Bear Creek Wildfire, estimated at 30 acres, is burning in black spruce. Active fire behavior was observed. Forest fire smoke has moved into the area from the numerous interior Alaska fires. The smoke and local air quality will be highly variable, with dense smoke possible in the afternoons. Smoke may be visible in the park and preserve. For more information about smoke and smoke management, visit: http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/airquality/ Due to the recent dry lightning event in the region and accidental human-caused fires statewide, park officials have determined it is necessary to prohibit the use of all open fires and activities. The term “open fires” refers to any flame source not immediately extinguishable or controllable and applies to any form of wood or charcoal-based fire, even in established fire rings. Use of gas Appendix A 2 grills, backpacking or camp stoves using fuel or compressed canisters which can be regulated and shut off are still permitted. Fire restrictions within the park generally correspond to fire restrictions put in place by the State of Alaska; however, they are managed independently by the National Park Service. Decisions to lift or continue restrictions will be made by park staff and based on the wide geographic range and diversity of available fuels within the park boundaries. June 23 fires burning in and around Denali National Park and Preserve Appendix A 3 Updated: Interior Alaska fires spread, threaten homes, villages - June 24 ERIN CORNELIUSSEN/FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS-MINER Lower 48 Firefighters Stage in Pleasant Valley Fabian Plemons, right, and Nick O'Shea talk with Daniel Jolly, inside his tent, at the Pleasant Valley Community Center on Wednesday, June 24, 2015. The firefighters are with the Daniel Boone Fire Crew from Kentucky. Two fire crews from North Carolina, a fire crew from Kentucky and a fire crew from Virginia are staging in the community center to help fight the Anaconda Creek Fire north of Chena Hot Springs Road. Appendix A 4 Posted: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 6:15 pm Appendix A 5 Updated: Interior Alaska fires spread, threaten homes, villages Staff Report, [email protected] FAIRBANKS - Here is a Wednesday evening update of notable fires burning in Interior Alaska: Tozitna Fire The lightning-caused fire near Tanana continued to grow aggressively, reaching 33,000 acres as of Wednesday's report. Heavy smoke was making attacking the blaze by air difficult. Ground crews largely focused on protecting the community. The nearby Spicer Creek Fire was reported at 21,000 acres. Rex Complex Fires The two fires in the complex down the Parks Highway near the area of Anderson grew to total of 16,257 acres on Wednesday, and there are nearly 400 people responding to the fire. The fire threatens 20 structures. Four others have been destroyed. Baker Creek The lightning-caused fire is still at 1,800 acres outside the Baker Subdivision in Eureka. Evacuation recommendations are still in place and smokejumpers continue with structure protection. Anaconda Creek Fire The lightning-caused fire about nine miles north of 27 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road grew to 2,000 acres on Wednesday. Four