Smokejumpers and water-scooping airplanes were successful in subduing a wildfire burning in a mining district near Eureka about 77 miles northwest of Fairbanks Saturday afternoon.
The efforts eight BLM and U.S. Forest smokejumpers and two Single Engine Air Tractors, or Fire Boss as they’re referred to in Alaska, were successful in getting around the #OmegaCreekFire (#181) and stop it from burning more than four acres. Firefighting personnel aboard an airplane helped coordinate the efforts on the ground and in the air. Unfortunately, a structure at the origin of the fire was reportedly destroyed when the fire ignited.
Firefighters anticipate it will take a few days of work to ensure the fire is completely out.
The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
There have been 30 new wildfires reported in Alaska this week. That will likely increase as the warm, dry and windy conditions are predicted to continue in many parts of the state as we head into the heart of the Alaska fire season. With more than 1,700 lightning strikes reported today, fire officials urge people to be careful because unlike lightning-caused fires, human-caused fires are preventable. #2022AlaskaFireSeason
Click on link for more information and map showing the location of the fire
Original source can be found here.
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