Wildfire — Yukon Flats Nearby Uplands, Alaska

2004-06-13 to 2004-06-30 · Yukon Flats Nearby Uplands, Alaska

Wider weather episode

Wildfires began over the eastern Interior of Alaska around June 13 and continued through the summer, setting a record year for acres burned since records began in 1950. By the end of June, 1.15 million acres had burned. Through the entire summer, nearly 6.5 million acres burned across northern Alaska; burned acreage also occurred in these zones not listed: 208, 215, 218, 217, 218, 219, 221, 223, 225, 226. Villages/Settlements Threatened from these fires: Zone 219: Bettles; Zone 220: Venetie, Central. Zone 222: Haystack Subdivision north of Fairbanks, Chena Hot Springs Resort. Zone 224: Eagle/Eagle Village, Chicken, Northway. June 23: The Taylor Highway from Tok to Eagle and Dawson was closed June 23- July 1, and in the beginning 6 busloads of tourists were stranded at Tok, who were slated to arrive at Dawson. The highway was opened after a few days to a one-per-day convoy. This closure hampered the logistics of delivery of supplies to fire camps in the area. June 24th, the Steese Highway between Fairbanks and Circle City began to be closed intermittently near mile 57, where the Boundary Fire was active. on June 29th, the fire moved to mile 42 of the Steese Highway and residents of 12 primary residences were evacuated from 42.5 mile to 55 mile. June 28-July 3: Dense smoke with visibilities mostly 1/2 mile or less persisted in the Fairbanks area, causing the cancellation of all scheduled outdoor sporting activities. Air Quality Alerts were in Force the entire week - on the 28th the 2.5 micron particulate sensor maxed out at the level of 995 microgram/cubic meter- at that level the sensor turns off so the final maximum on that day is unknown. Readings the rest of the week ranged from 300 to 800 microgram/cubic meter. Normal summertime values for Fairbanks is around 10 micrograms/cubic meter. Event continued into July.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5409340. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.