The Alaska Division of Forestry (DOF) responded to a fire that had escaped from a cabin owner’s burn barrel into nearby foliage in the Copper River Basin last week — a close-call blaze that was extinguished and caused minimal impact.
According to DOF, a cabin owner — who wasn’t identified by name in the report — called in the fire on their property on Susitna Lake and was able to extinguish it on July 14. The cabin owner, however, requested that fire personnel ensure the fire was completely out.
DOF Copper River Area sent helitack to scope out the area and found “no heat or smoke showing,” according to the announcement. The blaze, labeled the Super Club Fire #368, was measured at one-tenth of an acre and placed into monitor status, DOF said.
The fire came as much of Alaska was drenched by rain last weekend, which mitigated fire risk. Southeast Alaska was hit especially hard by rain last week, including in Juneau, Skagway, Haines Gustavus, Honnah, and Tenakee Springs.
In Cordova, the National Weather Service is reporting a chance of rain through at least Tuesday. DOF forecasts that the Copper River Basin, however, will remain dryer as southerly winds continue through the region.
Burn permits may be required in your area on any given day, depending on fire conditions. Be sure to call the Valdez/Copper River Area hotline at 907-822-8865 or visit https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn for more burn regulations.
