UPDATE 05/26/22 5:00 A.M. – Kenai Fire Management Officer Howie Kent provided an update last evening: “This evening fire is holding in the retardant line footprint at approximately 13.3 acres. The twelve smokejumpers will work with the Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew to cut a saw line around the perimeter. With all of the intial attack activity in Alaska the goal is to get the smokejumpers back to Fairbanks tomorrow when it makes sense to get them back in position. Helicopter 3HS is still working but the tankers and fire bosses did great work today boxing the thick timber in and cooling off the flanks and hot areas. Torching was observed today and the trees are really dry. We haven’t had significant rain in over a month. We ask that everyone please follow the burn permit suspensions and other wildfire related advisories in your area. Kachemak Emergency Services responded initially but the fire is located in a remote area. Approximately 27 mostly primary off grid residences are within a mile of the perimeter. With the success of the initial attack and the Fire bosses cooling off the flanks, no evacuations have been necessary. The fire looks to be holding in the footprint when the air tankers left. The goal for tonight is to get saw line aroud and work on mop up. Getting the jumpers back tomorrow is important for the next area that will need them. Pioneer Peak hotshots will remain on the fire securing the edge. A transfer of command between current Incident Commander Keenan Wallace and Kris Baumgartner will occur this evening, allowing Wallace to return to and reset with his helitack module. Currently the cause of the fire is under investigation and reportedly started near a residence. We ask everyone to please share the information about the current burn permit suspension and very dry fuels.”
According to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, the Caribou Fire is at just over 13 acres in size.
ORIGINAL: The Division of Forestry and Kachemak Emergency Services are responding to a wildland fire located at the head of the Kachemak Bay, in the Fox River mud flats area. The Caribou Fire was reported at 1:53 p.m. and is estimated to be about 10 acres in size. The wildland fire is burning about 2 miles east of Mud Drive.
The Alaska Division of Forestry reported both large air tankers are working to get fire retardant on the ground around the fire. Twelve smokejumpers are now on the ground and are beginning work. Three helicopters are working to drop buckets of water on the fire and shuttle the Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew to the fireline, according to Kenai Fire Management Officer Howie Kent, who reported the fire is burning in a remote area inaccessible by road.
Kent adds that there are several structures nearby and an estimated 20 or more within a mile. The fire is burning in black spruce and grass.
The DOF and Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Manager are communicating with nearby community members. The Caribou Fire is burning about 23 miles northeast of Homer and about 2 miles west of Fox River.
It’s currently unknown what started the fire.
