Governor Bill Walker has issued a disaster declaration for the Sockeye Fire near Willow, which has been categorized as Level 1 and a top state priority.
As of the last release, the fire has consumed over 6,500 acres and 45 structures.
The governor was flown over the fire at noon and said smoke jumpers were jumping just below his plane.
Gov. Walker: “That’s something to see as well, I mean talk about putting your life on the line they are literally jumping as close to the fire as they safely can. So the response has been just huge. My ask was what have you asked for that you have not received because that’s what I want to know about, how can we help.”
Walker stated the state is taking immediate action to help in whatever ways.
The fire has been described as having “potential”, meaning it could be headed for more populated areas as the Mat-Su Borough’s director of emergency services, Casey Cook stated.
Cook: “Yesterday we had relatively a smaller population and a smaller building footprint, and now as we get closer to Willow proper and closer into Nancy Lake where there’s more homes and more people so there’s more structures.”