The Caribou Lake Fire, 25 miles northeast of Homer, is 20 percent contained and is estimated to cover 900 acres. Fire managers expect to see the containment level of the fire increase today.
Around 80 people are fighting the fire on the ground and in the air. Although fire activity has been limited, firefighters continue to address fire along the perimeter’s edge with some occasional spot fires. Minimal fire growth is expected over the next several days as the predicted cloud cover will help to moderate fire activity.
A Temporary Flight Restriction is in effect for the Caribou Lake area. Drivers out East End should be aware that Forestry is using a gravel lot on Basargin Road. Signs and flags are on the road near the area.
The North Fork Fire, 6 miles northwest of Homer, is now 100 percent contained at 59 acres. Firefighters continue to mop up the fire.
Sarah Saarloos, Public Information Officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry spoke with KBBI's Kathleen Gustafson today, Monday, at 5:30 p.m. for this update.
Transcript:
Saarloos:
It was an exciting day. We just got back from the Helli-spot out there where they're shuttling equipment to the Caribou Lake Fire.
They didn't get the rain that we got down in Homer. It's still really dusty out there. I was able to tie in with the helicopter manager asked how the crews are doing the crews that we have out on the Fire or the Reading Hot Shot and then two type 1A crews.
Type to IA means they are almost like a Hotshot crew. But those two crews, one is from the Fremont-Winema National Forest. And then the other one is from the Rogue-Siskiyou Forest, down in Oregon. So we have the Redding Hot Shots and then a crew from the Fremont-Winema and Rogues both from Oregon that are out there with the smokejumpers. And then of course, local firefighters from Kachemak Emergency Services.
KBBI:
And, any word on a new map of the fire and the acreage and containment?
Saarloos:
No, we're still at is holding at 900 Acres. So it's been now 900 for about at least 12 hours maybe more and so we're not seeing a lot of change in that perimeter and that footprint. They are increasing the containment but due to other missions, they haven't done a full map of where the containment is.
It is more than 20% We just haven't done the math to up that containment on the official paperwork, but it's holding at 900 Acres there.
They've been able to take those dozer lines and start mopping up in the dozer lines. And so we're seeing some real progress. And once we get the better mapping we'll definitely be actually seeing the number of the percentage of containment move up.
KBBI:
And work continues mopping up at the North Fork fire.?
Saarloos:
The North Fork is looking really good. They are doing really intense mopping up. They've gridded - what we call gridding - which means just walking every inch of that fire again to make sure that no heat is remaining are hiding out under a deep stump so we don't have to deal with a flare up in the next wind event.
KBBI:
Okay, Sarah Saarloos, public information officer for the Alaska Division of Forestry, is there any other information that you need to get out tonight?
Saarloos:
Well, we did get a press release out from the Alaska Division of Forestry today, letting folks know that fire season, usually, is wrapping up at the end of August, August 31st.
This season, because of the drought and just the warm temperatures and fire activity, the Division of Forestry is extending fire season to the end of September. So September 30th, that means for all burn permits, say if you have a burn permit to do some burning on your property, you used to not have to call in after August 31st to see if the permits were active. Now, you will have to call in and get a burn permit all the way through to the end of September.
KBBI:
Okay. Well, thank you for that update
Saarloos:
That sounds good, Kathleen. All right,
