If you have been following the Alaskan news recently you will know that right now there are over 250 separate fires burning and being tracked around the state. The fire crews from Alaska and the Lower 48, plus their support staff are doing an amazing job and are working hard to protect lives, homes and businesses. These men and women are truly "giving it their all." And we thank them for their perseverance, knowledge and professionalism. We'd like to quote something we read from one of the Seaveys on Facebook: "Firefighters make Iditarod Mushers look like Cupcakes!
Current map from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center
The closest fire to the kennel is The Anaconda Creek Fire (#439), on the north side of Chena Hot Springs Road. This fire started on June 20th by a lightening strike. Currently the fire is about 10 miles north of the kennel with a favorable wind currently blowing away from any built up areas. It is in an area we train in during the winter so we're familiar with the trails and terrain. It actually is burning just a few miles north of one of our common winter training trails that we ironically call "the Fire Break" trail. It is a wide trail cut along the top of a ridge by a bull dozer years ago to try and keep a fire north of Two Rivers. We hope that its previously intended goal is still valid!
Ray and Aliy took ATVs to the Fire Break Trail on Sunday afternoon and photographed the fire. It is reported to be 600 acres in size. Currently the wind is blowing the fire away from the kennel and away from the town of Two Rivers.
A view of the Anaconda Creek Fire from the Fire Break Trail.
An Alaska Type II Green Team has been stationed at the Pleasant Valley Store and Community Centre to attend the fire and they're keeping everyone well abreast of the situation with updates and information as needed. The situation can alter quickly with a change in the wind or a lightning strike. We have loaded three trucks and two trailers with gear and dog supplies. There is a dog truck standing ready and a trailer for dog kennels. We could evacuate on a moment's notice.
The Willow (Sockeye) Fire that burned many mushers (and non mushers) homes in the Southcentral Alaska earlier in June has now been predominately contained. People are moving back to their property and assessing damages: some minimal some catastrophic. Our thoughts go out to our friends who lost so much.
Several Alaskan villages have also been evacuated as wildfires. Musher Brent Sass has evacuated his kennel in Eureka and both the towns of Nulato and Tanana (checkpoints on the Iditarod this year) have evacuated. A small community south of Nenana has lost homes as well. But, there are many, many more fires threatening cabins, structures and livelihoods.
