Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Swan lake Fire

I wanted to go fishing but decided it wasn't worth that hassle again.
Stayed home and got some fish canned and yard work done instead. hopefully I'll be able to get down there this weekend. Those silvers need killing.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2224252174532006

Swan lake fire video.

Does not take much math to realize a single lane pilot car set-up at 15mph on a 27 mile closed stretch makes for a long slow trip!

Really smart move!

[align:center][/align]UPDATE: Cooper Landing now at "Set" alert

Things just took that turn to the really serious side of things. If Coopers Landing burns the fools that did not get instantly back on that fire should catch some real heat.

Photo courtesy Jan Powers

By Mike Ross | Posted: Mon 8:56 PM, Aug 26, 2019 | Updated: Mon 9:03 PM, Aug 26, 2019

ANCHORAGE, Alaska Fire officials Monday night raised the evacuation alert for the Cooper Landing area to "LEVEL 2: SET". Previously, the alert level was at "ready".

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management posted this bulletin on it's web page Monday evening at 7:45 p.m.:

"The Swan Lake Fire area near Cooper Landing has become increasingly active today crossing Resurrection Pass Trail at Slaughter Ridge. The Great Basin Incident Management Team which is managing the fire, in coordination with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, has changed the evacuation alert to LEVEL 2 (SET) in all areas of Cooper Landing MP 46-54. A Level 2 (SET) Evacuation is NOT a notice to leave. This notice means that you must be ready and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. A Level 2 (SET) signifies that there is significant danger in your area. Get SET by loading your 6 P’s: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, Personal (computer back-up info), and important Papers and a 7-day kit into your vehicle. You may have time to gather necessary items, however remember you must be prepared and ready to relocate. You may want to leave at Level 2 (SET) if you need additional time to relocate family members with mobility issues or to relocate pets, livestock and large mobile vehicles such as RVs, ATVs or boats. If you need extra time; don’t wait to leave."


The Alaska Division of Forestry issued this notice Monday night:
"The Sterling Highway is now closed at the Y at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Seward Highway to allow people leaving Cooper Landing to get out. Cooper Landing is at SET. This is not a notice to leave, but those Cooper Landing residents that choose to leave should head to Anchorage or Seward.All drivers near milepost 71 (Watson Lake) should turn around and head back to Soldotna. Two helicopters are working the fire with a third coming. It’s too smoky for fixed wing to fly. Air attack is up trying to get eyes on the fire."

This is a developing story. Check Channel 2 News and KTUU.com for updates.

This is not looking good at all... another update last night seemed to cancel all school activities. I will go look for it. I heard it on the radio.

'UPDATE: Cooper Landing now at "Set" alert

Photo courtesy Jan Powers

By Mike Ross | Posted: Mon 8:56 PM, Aug 26, 2019 | Updated: Mon 10:57 PM, Aug 26, 2019

ANCHORAGE, Alaska UPDATE 10:45 pm:

From the KPB School District:

"School is cancelled at Cooper Landing School on Tuesday, August 27, 2019.Effective August 26, 2019, until further notice: KPBSD student activity related travel between Sterling and Cooper Landing on Sterling Highway between MP 45-71 is cancelled until further notice.
Local air quality and predictions will determine if OUTDOOR activities and athletics at or hosted by KPBSD schools are restricted. School administrators will determine if recess, outdoor classroom activities, and sports practice will take place based on Air Quality conditions in their immediate area. Cancellations or restrictions may happen if conditions change rapidly."

Original story:

Fire officials Monday night raised the evacuation alert for the Cooper Landing area to "LEVEL 2: SET". Previously, the alert level was at "ready".

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management posted this bulletin on it's web page Monday evening at 7:45 p.m.:

"The Swan Lake Fire area near Cooper Landing has become increasingly active today crossing Resurrection Pass Trail at Slaughter Ridge. The Great Basin Incident Management Team which is managing the fire, in coordination with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, has changed the evacuation alert to LEVEL 2 (SET) in all areas of Cooper Landing MP 46-54. A Level 2 (SET) Evacuation is NOT a notice to leave. This notice means that you must be ready and prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. A Level 2 (SET) signifies that there is significant danger in your area. Get SET by loading your 6 P’s: People, Pets, Pills, Photos, Personal (computer back-up info), and important Papers and a 7-day kit into your vehicle. You may have time to gather necessary items, however remember you must be prepared and ready to relocate. You may want to leave at Level 2 (SET) if you need additional time to relocate family members with mobility issues or to relocate pets, livestock and large mobile vehicles such as RVs, ATVs or boats. If you need extra time; don’t wait to leave."


The Alaska Division of Forestry issued this notice Monday night:
"The Sterling Highway is now closed at the Y at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Seward Highway to allow people leaving Cooper Landing to get out. Cooper Landing is at SET. This is not a notice to leave, but those Cooper Landing residents that choose to leave should head to Anchorage or Seward.All drivers near milepost 71 (Watson Lake) should turn around and head back to Soldotna. Two helicopters are working the fire with a third coming. It’s too smoky for fixed wing to fly. Air attack is up trying to get eyes on the fire."

This is a developing story. Check Channel 2 News and KTUU.com for updates.

Incredibly dangerous situation.

And all because they were in a rush to stop a grass fire somewhere...

I hope the new decision-makers do a better job.

They probably figured the fire was pretty much done and would only smolder until snowfall. Of course a month ago nobody expected 24-30 hours of 40 mph winds blowing it to habitation.

There is a third chopper coming. Ironically there were three here until they were used to pull pumps, hoses, and other equipment. Hopefully the smoke level drops to where fixed wing can be used. It needs more than choppers can drop.

I read that there were firing operations being done yesterday to consume fuels to protect the highway. I hope that didn’t get out of control.

Most government run back burns backfire!

Not that I know a lot.... about fires... but sometimes you have to take a SWAG. Pull off to stop a small fire that you can stop right now, to prevent it from becoming huge also. And sometimes that bites you in the tail.

Its pretty easy to armchair stuff like that.

Fire can change so quick. I've had it do, to me, unreal, unexpected things and things that scare the pee out of you at the time.

I'm thankful for all first responders and for the job they do and I realize even fire folks could make a mistake.

Last perfect person in this world they nailed to a tree per my reading.

RE 24-30 hours of wind... I'd swear up here we had about 48-72 hours of that stupid wind about that time.

Crown Point fire cause!

Y at Tern lake is closed to the Sterling hwy. to help CL residents evac.

Back burns are best in non populated areas and prior to controlled burns. And those have to have perfect conditions to light up and can still get away.

Sometimes I think fire folks up higher have seen the data on back burns, and feel they have to use it, while they've never actually used it in the conditions at hand. Trick it can be for sure.

I don't like back burns at all. And while I always carry a couple of lighters in case I have to create a safer space for me, things would have to be perfect in my mind to try back burns. Condtions can change just way to quickly IMHO

Whatever happens, the next 50 years is going to be pretty safe in that area.

good time to buy!

Just before sunset tonight, 5 fire planes (I presume) came over, headed for the barn. Looks like they got some work in today.

Heard Princess Lodge evacuated. Pretty smoky on the west side here.