https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/A...k-of-new-Mat-Su-wildfires-550490901.html

Just up there fishing at Sheep Creek mouth, around MP 88 30 MPH plus sustained S winds and fire blew up, they were evacuating people when we got off the river. Fire is East side of Susitna river between river and Parks HWY lots of structures and homes in there.

That could get bad! Some huge winds today for a chopper in very hot weather...

It's been raining for days/weeks north of the range. WTH?

Update
https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/A...ak-of-new-Mat-Su-wildfires-550490901.htm

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/A...expected-to-worsen-Sunday-552015871.html

Lots of updates, including the Swan Lake fire.

Swan lake is nutso.
Sterling closed until tomorrow . Skilak loop closed. Fire jumped hwy, crossed Skilak and ain’t gonna stop til it gets yo the river.....if then.

Res trail closed south of devils pass, as is skyline and fuller lakes. All cabins on south end closed.

http://www.radiokenai.net/traffic-h...erling-highway-upper-kenai-river-closed/


ETA: upper river is closed too.

UPDATE: McKinley Fire jumps Parks Highway; evacuations ordered between MP 82 and 91 think last estimate over 750 plus acres

The smoke plume I saw coming back in from the charter this afternoon on the Talkeetna was BIG.... Very concerning. Thats not a small fire IMHO.

Winds here in Talkeetna still blowing too. But I think they are finally supposed to back off tonight or tommorrow.

My charter cancelled, can't get up here from ANC.

Except the two days we hunted the Steese. Just fuggin perfect! .

I got really close to it today before they shut the highway down. They wouldn't let me through even though I had an axe and a shovel in the truck.

Headed North or South?

Looks like the Parks Highway fire just got serious... at least 50 structures burned today.

We can hope it was like the Miller's Reach fire about 30 years ago that burned 300 structures and did $12 damage!

Actually the fire burned 300 structures and they called it a million dollars in damage.

I heard Camp Caswell burned down and my neighbors down the street have a huge parcell of land on it with 4 cabins right across the highway from there, they will more than likely lose them sometime today unless something changes. The fire dept had to escort his son and a friend from the property late yesterday as the fire was too close for them to stay there.

Nice

It could get real ugly real fast if the winds come back...

I was headed south. Luckily I didn't get up early and get through, or I'd still be stuck down there. I'd have to be drinking beer with 'Bender. The horror!

I feel your pain!

Just saw a video of the fire, it's right along the highway and you can see houses burning in the background. Pretty sad deal for those living out there and those with cabins.

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/wea...na-valley-wildfire-hope-to-gain-control/

The wind finally let off!

Sheeeit. I got rubber boots. 😉

BTW - the hwy is apparently open now.

Swan went from 102K acres to 130K+ in a day. The map shows it so far up Thurman to the west end of trout l. Tis crimping my scouting efforts.

So, A video posted on Facebook is how someone found out they lost everything they owned. Sad it went that way.

Found out through FB? More like were told to evac via the state troopers.

Just spoke to a young fellow that just made it through the fire. Sounds "special" right now, but they were letting two-way traffic through.

I heard there's a fire near Big Lake, anyone here about this one?

I do not see it on the main fire site???

Not that one, but there is a new one (yesterday) just south of anchor point.

I'm thinking this was a false alarm, can't find anything on it either.

My wife just got through she’s headed to Fairbanks. They are using pilot car. I told her she been better off going through Glennallen, she left at 0700 this morning. I told her she be to delta jct by now. Never deviate from a plan!

Yeah, the evacuated alright. According to the wife, they said they saw their house on fire from the Facebook video someone had posted. That does suck, but hopefully they had insurance.

last I heard just a bit ago, boss went up the spur and it was a 4-5 hour wait to get through, 1 way with a pilot car. Talkeetna here, now has smoke fairly heavy. Winds died down a lot, but shifted. SW I think at 3 last I looked.

Almost all charters are cancelling since they can't get to us.

But I"m thinking hey, a much needed nap, the last 2 weeks I put in 150 hours. Nap and then hop on the boat and fish for myself for once.

LOL

Hoping to head that way Thursday afternoon if i get my truck fixed, hopefully they get this thing under control before then.

I would call that mighty optimistic, just saying...

One of my buddys came through there yesterday on his way home from Clear, said he waited for over 4 hours to come through the area. As for being optimistic, it's about all I have right now.

You do intend to pass through and go well beyond, I hope...

No, planning on turning down Petersville rd and going to our cabin, if that's a no go then we'll stay home.

I have some close friends that (had) a cabin just a mile or two from Camp Caswell, they were out in front of their cabin talking to a fire crew the fire
crew told them that there was no danger and they were heading to a different fire.
less than 5 minutes later Troopers were at their door telling them to get out immediately.
My friends haven't made it back to see the damage but one of their neighbors found a way to slip back in and told them there was nothing but ash
where there cabin used to be.
Lost their home, shop, sleds, boat, car and motorhome, it was their primary residence so they lost all personal belongings as well.

Damn, very sorry to hear that, hopefully they had insurance.

They are fully insured, worst part is they both retired a few years back sold their house in Anchorage and have been building this cabin ever since.
They just got everything completed and were starting to enjoy some leisure time.

Thank God they got out with their lives and that they had insurance. Hopefully they’ll be made whole and can get back to enjoying their retirement in paradise.

Sadly, so many things insurance just can’t replace.

Trying to deal with insurance can be as bad as the damage!

Ain't that the truth!

We've been lucky I guess. Dealing with insurance has not been that big of an issue over the years. But since Dad was in the business, there are certain companies we stay away from big time, and that said generally small local companies for most house type stuff seems the best route for us.

Sure hate it that folks lost all.

There was a house fire, no insurance, at the yacht club in Talkeetna the other day while I was fishing. Saw photos inside the cabin, it was very nice, will be missed I'm sure, but when you don't take out insurance you take on the risk.

Plenty of places, cabins especially, just flat can't get insurance. Which is pretty rough right now for a lot of folks, no doubt.

They are saying it is up to 80 structures gone now. Sad deal here.

https://www.ktuu.com/content/news/McKinley-Fire-meeting-557317611.html

McKinley Fire has destroyed an estimated 80 structures

By Lex Treinen | Posted: Tue 3:17 PM, Aug 20, 2019 | Updated: Tue 7:02 PM, Aug 20, 2019

ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - Fire managers met with community members at Willow Elementary School to describe firefighting efforts for the McKinley Fire burning along the Parks Highway.



Managers described the current status of the fire, which has destroyed an estimated 80 structures, and is burning 4,349 acres along the Parks Highway from Mileposts 82 to 91.

They described unusually dangerous fire conditions on Saturday and Sunday, when the fire started and spread. Normally, strong north winds tend to subside during the late summer, but gusty winds spread the flames throughout Sunday.

On Saturday, Ken Barkley, the Emergency Services Director for the Mat-Su Borough said that he responded to twelve wildfires in eight hours - the McKinley Fire was the fourth of those. Additionally, three property fires were called in.

The Mat-Su Borough reminded residents that property assessors can reassess property that was damaged or destroyed to reduce taxable value. The reductions are prorated between the time of the assessment and December.



Managers tamped down fears of looters and said that the National Guard had stepped in to man the traffic checkpoints, allowing the Alaska State Troopers to continue doing law enforcement patrols along the highway and on side streets. While they said that they are hoping to start giving out day permits for property owners to be able to check on their properties, that won't happen "any time soon."

They also reminded residents of the area that all burn permits have been suspended, which includes the use of burn barrels.

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Luckily our neighbors place across from Camp Caswell was spared from the fire, they wnet up yesterday to take care of some smoldering trees so it doesn't kick back up again.

Updates
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/201...ka-blazes-were-human-caused-report-says/