After mobilizing two additional crews to the approximately 102-acre Loon Lake Fire on Monday, crews aim to connect a saw line that has been cut around part of the fire with hose lays that have been placed around the fire to encircle the entire fire perimeter with saw and hose line.
Containment remains at 15 percent and there are 81 personnel assigned to the fire, including three crews. Very little smoke was visible from the fire yesterday. Hotter and drier conditions will test containment lines as crews continue work to increase the depth along the perimeter.
Located approximately 10 miles northeast of the community of Sterling and the Sterling Highway, the fire is burning in remote wilderness within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, approximately 4 miles west of where the 2019 Swan Lake fire was started by lightning. The Loon Lake Fire does not currently pose any threat to the community of Sterling or any other values at risk.
The north side of the fire is boxed in by Swan Lake and crews are working to secure containment line on the south side of the fire. An additional helicopter arrived this morning and will provide critical logistical support by shuttling in key supplies to firefighters, including hose, pumps, fuel and the fresh food boxes.
An operational update on the Loon Lake Fire from Incident Commander Trainee Torrey Short from the Alaska Division of Forestry:
Mop-up operations have already begun, with the Moose River and the nearby lakes providing fire crews and aviation assets with a close water source for hose lays and helicopter bucket drops. Two primary concerns for firefighters are working safely amongst hazard and fire weakened trees that could topple over and unanticipated bear encounters in the remote area.
An additional medium helicopter arrived this morning adding to the type 1 and type 3 already on scene. Very little smoke was visible from the fire yesterday. Moose River and the nearby lakes are providing fire crews and aviation assets with readily available water sources for hose lays and bucket drops. The fire is burning in a Limited protection area and does not currently pose a threat.
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge managers have elected to take 100 percent suppression on this fire, which is limited to the north by Swan Lake itself and is burning adjacent to the 2019 Swan Lake Fire scar. A burn suspension is in effect for the Kenai Peninsula and there is a 3-mile Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area to prevent aircraft and drones from interfering with crew and supply shuttles, recon and bucket work.
06/15 6:00 AM UPDATE: Fire crews working the 75 acre Loon Lake Fire located in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge wilderness are cutting the fireline and mopping up.
In a Monday evening video update, Kale Casey, Public Information Officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry:
The Moose River is providing crews with plenty of water for hose lays along the eastern flank. Type 3 Incident Commander Bryan Quimby assumed command Monday with the goal of full 100% suppression of this lightning caused fire. Two more hotshot crews – the Pioneer Peak Hotshots from the Division of Forestry and Midnight Sun Hotshots from the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service – arrived to the scene and flew to the fire to join the Gannett Glacier Initial Attack crew to bolster containment work on the ground.
The fire is burning in a limited protection area and does not currently pose a threat but Refuge managers have elected to take 100% suppression of the fire. The Alaska Division of Forestry is coordinating with Refuge managers to formulate a suppression plan for the fire.
