Fresh Crews Arrive to Fight Big Su Wildfire

By Becky Stoppa, Anchorage Daily News, Alaska

Jun. 23–High humidity and cool temperatures are helping to hold the Big Su fire steady at about 9,475 acres today, said Matt Weaver, spokesman for the state Division of Forestry.

“It actually has been laying down a little bit for the last 14 hours or so,” he said. About 140 people and three helicopters are battling the blaze at Trapper Lake, west of the Susitna River, Weaver said. Additional helicopters and crews from the Lower 48 are expected to arrive this afternoon.

The fire, which began south of the lake Wednesday, split Friday at a retardant line firefighters had placed in front of homes at the south end of the lake. It then began making its way up both the west and east ends of the lake.

One cabin south of Trapper Lake was believed lost in the early stages of the fire, officials said. But firefighters so far have managed to save the 40 structures that surround the lake, Weaver said.

The primary mission of both ground and helicopter crews is to continue protecting the structures, particularly those on the west side where the fire appears to be a little more active, Weaver said.

A Type 2 management team from central Oregon arrived Friday night and will begin taking over the fire response today, Weaver said. They are setting up a command post at Willow Elementary School and at 10 p.m. will relieve the local incident command center set up at Deshka Landing.

The team is about 30 members strong and is composed of firefighters with a wide range of expertise and training, he said.

In addition, two Type 1 hot-shot crews from the Lower 48 will arrive Saturday morning. They’ll head first to a briefing session at UAA and then to Deshka landing where they’ll be deployed to the Big-Su fire.

Seven Type 2 crews from Alaska villages like Huslia, Ruby and Fort Yukon are already in place, Weaver said. The Type 2 crews are experienced summer firefighters, although they have somewhat less training than Type 1 crews, he said.

Three additional Type 1 crews are on order from the Lower 48, but Weaver said there’s no word yet on when they’ll arrive. He said he also expects three additional helicopters to arrive Saturday or Sunday, though he’s not sure yet where they’ll be used.

“They could wind up at Caribou Hills or Mat-Su,” he said. A 60-acre wildfire north of the Yentna River 10 miles east of Skwetna is still burning, though crews have made excellent progress, Weaver said.

“There’s been no increase on acreage so we’re very optimistic about that one,” he said. Four other fires in the Valley were reported Friday night, Weaver said. Three were false alarms and the fourth, which he said was caused by humans, was contained.

A complete suspension of open burning remains in effect for the region. Campfires are still allowed, but no burning of things like trash or yard debris is allowed, Weaver said.

Find Becky Stoppa online at adn.com/contact/bstoppa or call 907-352-6708.

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