Fire Destroys 10,000 Acres in Alaska
Posted on: Friday, 9 June 2006, 09:00 CDT
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A fire along a highway in central Alaska more than tripled, reaching an estimated 10,000 acres and moving to within a mile of the city of Nenana.
All homes along a 13-mile stretch of the Parks Highway were evacuated Thursday night, said Pete Buist, fire information officer for the Alaska Division of Forestry. Buist said he did not know how many homes were evacuated but six or seven of them were in the most danger.
The fire started Wednesday at a home near the town of Anderson along the highway, which runs between Wasilla and Fairbanks.
Fire management officer Robert Schmoll said details were sketchy, but initial reports indicated the homeowner had used a burn barrel and then dumped embers. The embers lit grass or brush and ignited the fire, he said. Winds gusting up to 25 mph spread it north.
Smoke was pouring into Nenana and even reached Fairbanks, 55 miles to the north.
Fire crews and rigs were positioned at the most threatened buildings, and fire retardant was being dropped on the blaze, Buist said.
The highway was closed Thursday night.
Source: Associated Press/AP Online
Related Articles
- McCain's Bet on Palin Sets Up a 'Wild Ride' in Fall Campaign
- All Hands Safe in Alaska Fishing Boat Fire
- Fire on Alaska Fishing Boat Extinguished
- Fires Spew Tons of Global Warming Gas
- U.S. Weighs Shootdown of N. Korea Missile
- Truck with missile parts explodes in S.Korea tunnel
- Dry, Hot Weather Ignites Big Alaska Wildfire Season
- Alaska Could See Mushroom Boom in 2005
- West Sees Mild Start to Wildfire Season
- 2 Wildfires Threaten Arizona Observatory
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds