Wildfire — Yukon Flats Nearby Uplands, Alaska

2004-07-01 to 2004-07-31 · Yukon Flats Nearby Uplands, Alaska

Wider weather episode

Event continued from June. 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 July 4.5 million acres had burned, placing the event in second place. But by the end of the fire season, nearly 6.4 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. July 1: The Taylor Highway from Tok to Eagle and Dawson was fully opened. The Steese Highway remained closed. Chena Hot Springs Road, which runs from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort, was closed at Angel Creek (a few miles from the Resort)as the Wolf Creek Fire was on both sides of the road at mile 54. 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. July 2: Evacuations in place for areas along the Steese and Elliot Highways due to the spread of the Boundary Fire. Steese Highway closed. One cabin lost near Chena Hot Springs from the Wolf Creek Fire. July 4: Boundary Fire: Evacuations remain in effect, this includes the Haystack Subdivision, a rural area of homes at about 15 mile Steese highway. On the Wolf Creek Fire, Flame lengths in excess of 60 feet and spotting greater than ½ mile occurred. July 6: Evansville Fire began - extreme fire behavior and rate of spread near the village of Bettles. Evacuation Order lifted for Boundary Fire (including the Haystack Subdivision and settlement of Chatanika). July 9: Waldron Creek Fire near Fort Hamlin Hills fire, near Steven's Village: One structure lost - the home of elderly residents. July 19: State of Alaska Division of Forestry reports 16 residences (all are secondary homes or recreational cabins), 2 commercial buildings, and 17 outbuildings destroyed. One outbuilding damaged. Boundary Fire forced an evacuation order (again) to the Haystack subdivision of Fairbanks. American Red Cross has set up a shelter at a Fairbanks Middle school to provide relief and meals. July 22: Total of 55 outbuildings destroyed. Boundary fire evacuation remains in effect. July 23: Boundary Fire evacuation lifted. Red Cross closed their shelter in Fairbanks.Event continued into August.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5412939. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.