Yukon-Charley Rivers |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-current. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, August 14, 1986 Location: Kandik River Summary: Mr. M.L., an air taxi operator from Eagle and a frequent critic of NPS, was flying to Kandik River in NE corner of Yukon Charlie National Preserve. Never returned. An ELT signal came into RCC Elmendorf on Wednesday a.m., and a search was mounted. Mr. M.L. was found with his crashed plane just over the border into Canada; next to the plane, a message was stamped into the snow: "call NPS, Eagle. Help!" A Service Firepro helicopter from Cold Creek rescued Mr. M.L..
Location: Upper 70-Mile River Mr. M.L. flew out to Yukon Charley to pick up some hunters. He landed on an unimproved airstrip, and his plane flipped over upside down. When he became overdue, his wife initiated a search with local pilots. They failed to find him. The search was continued on the 14th, and he was eventually found uninjured at the airstrip. A helicopter had been sent out just in case he was found injured. It was employed instead to remove the wreck from the strip.
On June 10th, F.L.W. pled guilty to state felony charges of cultivating marijuana in the park and was sentenced to four years in prison. His wife, K.W., pled guilty to federal misdemeanor charges of possession of controlled substances. F.L.W. had faced a possible sentence of up to 60 years in prison and $60,000 in federal fines. The case against the couple began when an informant reported their activities in July, 1989. Fixed-wing overflights of the area in which the plants were reportedly being grown revealed a camouflaged greenhouse, and a surveillance operation was begun with the assistance of rangers from six Alaskan parks. A search warrant for the greenhouse was subsequently executed by a multiagency task force managed by the park's chief ranger. Although over 400 plants had originally been growing in the greenhouse, only 61 were found and seized. [CompuServe message from RAD/ARO, 6/24]
On October 11th, rangers executed a search warrant for drugs at a cabin in the park and seized 27 sinsemilla marijuana plants and about a half pound of marijuana. The three occupants of the cabin - E.W., E.W.'s girlfriend, and a juvenile - were there at the time of the search and seizure, which occurred without incident. The mission was the result of cooperative efforts among rangers, Alaska state troopers, Air National Guard soldiers, the U.S. attorney's office, and the region's drug investigation ranger. E.W. is the brother and neighbor of F.W., who was sentenced last May to four years in prison for cultivation of marijuana in the park. [Telefax from Scott Taylor, CI, RAD/ARO, 10/11]
Sometime during the period between June 13th and 16th, the NPS aircraft assigned to the park was tampered with in a manner that could have resulted in engine failure any time after start-up or during flight. The act was discovered during a routine pre-flight inspection by ranger/pilot Dennis Knuckles on June 16th. A cooperative criminal investigation by the NPS, OAS and Alaska state police is underway. [Carrie Stroble, RAD/ARO, 6/25]
The park was notified of a medical emergency at the mouth of the Kandik River, 70 miles down the Yukon River from park headquarters in Eagle, just after midnight on the morning of July 14th. Kathleen Cassie Flynn, an archeologist from Alaska Regional Office who is working on an inventory of the historic Charley Village area, had become ill; seasonal ranger and retired physician Charles Gregory had determined that she was suffering from acute peritonitis and advised that she required immediate transport to a medical facility. Chief ranger Jan Dick arranged for a helicopter to pick Flynn up and for an air ambulance to transport her from Eagle to Fairbanks. The helicopter flew to the site at 2:15 a.m., picked Flynn up, then transferred her to the ALS air ambulance at 3:45 a.m. Flynn was diagnosed as suffering from internal hemorrhaging of undetermined causes and was admitted to surgery later that morning. [Jan Dick, CR, YUCH, 7/14]
Cassie Flynn, the regional archeologist who was evacuated from the Kandik area of the park on the morning of July 14th, underwent surgery later that morning for treatment of a ruptured ovary, a life-threatening condition. She has recovered and was scheduled to return to Anchorage from Fairbanks yesterday. [Peter Fitzmaurice, Acting Superintendent, YUCH, 7/20]
Around noon on June 14th, Dennis Allen Tucker, a local indigent, opened fire with a number of weapons in the vicinity of an airstrip on BLM land near park headquarters in Eagle. During the shooting spree, Tucker damaged a parked aircraft belonging to an Eagle resident. After Tucker disappeared into a forested area near the strip, park staff evacuated the area, and two rangers - the only law enforcement presence in the remote area - monitored the forest and established a protective perimeter until Alaska state troopers arrived around 4 p.m. Tucker was arrested and taken to Fairbanks. Tucker had apparently threatened to kill the owner of the aircraft earlier in the month. No one was injured in the incident. [Steve Shackelton, RLES, ARO, 6/15]
In mid-August, rangers, Canadian wildlife officers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents successfully concluded a big game poaching investigation along the border between the two nations. A guide from Eagle, Alaska, admitted that his client had taken sheep from Canada, and that he had flown the animal in his aircraft to Eagle. Fish and Wildlife intends to charge both the guide and his client, a Canadian citizen, with a felony violation of the Lacey Act. Canadian charges are also pending against the client for numerous game violations. [Mary Kay Taylor, ARO, 9/9]
An Air Force F-15C fighter crashed in the park on August 3rd while engaged in flight training exercises. The pilot ejected safely, but the $15 million plane was destroyed. The crash occurred in a remote tributary of the Charley River. The wreckage is in the middle of the tributary and is leaking fuel into both the soil and stream. NPS, state and Air Force personnel are on scene and will remain for 30 days to measure and mitigate environmental impacts and determine the cause of the crash. Park employees will also bear-proof the camp and manage any wildlife confrontations that may occur there. [Jan Dick, CR, YUCH]'
Three buildings at the historic Taylor cabin site near the confluence of the Nation and Yukon Rivers were destroyed by a lightning-caused fire on the night of July 3rd. The buildings, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, were recently restored by the NPS and were open for free public use. A second nearby public use cabin at the mouth of the Nation River has a sprinkler system and is believed to be relatively safe from the fire. The Taylor buildings were restored over the past two years at a cost of about $68,000. The historic buildings date from 1920 and included a 12-by-24-foot main log shop building, a 12-by-12-foot log shed, and a dog barn. Soon after the fire began, park staff cleared brush and trees from around the buildings to slow any fire, but the unusually strong winds and hot fire destroyed the structures before any additional fire fighting effort could safely be made. The dog barn, a sod-roofed structure built for sled dogs, was probably the last of its kind in Alaska. The buildings were built by prospector James Taylor and were representative of life along the river after the turn-of-the-century gold rushes and up to World War I, when fishing, trapping and cutting wood for steamships plying the Yukon provided a livelihood for many people. [John Quinley, PIO, ARO, 7/7]
Seasonal maintenance employee John Coss passed away from natural causes at his home in Eagle on July 20th. John had worked as a seasonal in the park in several maintenance positions since 1993 and was responsible for maintenance on boats, vehicles and structures. He is survived by his father, R., his son, J., Jr., and his daughters, T. and D. A memorial service was held in Eagle on Sunday, July 30th; a second will be held in Colorado, with the time and place yet to be determined. John was an integral part of the small NPS family at Yukon-Charley Rivers NP and will be greatly missed. [CRO, YUCH, 7/31]
A boating accident on the Charley River on June 8th claimed the life of G.Z., 41, of Sylvania, Ohio. The accident occurred when a group of six men in four inflatable canoes/kayaks encountered a stretch of rapids with large standing waves and numerous boulders. Three of the watercraft capsized and five of the men were thrown into the swift, high water. Everyone but G.Z. made it safely to shore. The survivors were stranded until June 11th, when they were located by an air taxi operator and evacuated to Fairbanks. Two were treated for minor injuries at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and released. The search and rescue mission was begun after the survivors' emergency signal mirror was seen by a passenger in an aircraft flying overhead. G.Z. was last seen floating down the river on his back, headfirst. His body was recovered just over a mile downstream from the site of the accident later on the 11th. The exact cause of death has not been determined, but drowning is suspected. All members of the party were wearing life jackets, but none were wearing helmets. Their experience levels were self-rated as from fair to good. NPS personnel from the Eagle ranger station, aided by a FIREPRO contract helicopter, assisted Alaska state troopers in the search and body recovery. Limited skill level, high water and heavily-laden boats may all have been contributing factors to the accident. [Roger Semler, Chief of Ops, GAAR, 6/14]
The NPS and Alaska State Troopers have been conducting a search in the Tatonduk River area of Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve since Tuesday, June 19th, when R.C., 70, was reported overdue by local residents. R.C. has lived a subsistence lifestyle for over 30 years in a remote area of Alaska within the boundaries of the preserve. His home was a rustic cabin on the Tatonduk River, approximately 23 river miles from Eagle, Alaska; his primary mode of travel in the summer was via motorized canoe. NPS and local volunteer ground searchers, air and ground scent dog teams with trackers and handlers, river boats, an NPS Firepro contract helicopter, an Alaska State Trooper helicopter and crew, an NPS airplane and a private airplane have been committed to the search. Considerable debris has been found in the river, including R.C.'s 17-foot Grumman canoe, with its outboard jet motor still attached. It was found submerged in the river about three-and-a-half miles downstream from his cabin on June 23rd. The search continues, but was scaled back on June 25th. [Roger Semler, IC, GAAR, 6/25]
The body of R.C., 70, was recovered from the Tatonduk River on the evening of June 25th after a seven-day search. The body was spotted from a park aircraft near the confluence of the Tatonduk and Yukon Rivers and was recovered by Alaska state troopers and NPS rangers. R.C. was reported missing by local residents on June 19th. R.C. lived a subsistence lifestyle for over 30 years in a remote area of Alaska within the boundaries of the preserve. His home was a rustic cabin on the Tatonduk River, approximately 23 river miles from Eagle, Alaska; his primary mode of travel in the summer was via motorized canoe. The canoe was found overturned and submerged in the river downstream from his cabin on June 23rd. [Kevin Fox, Chief of Operations/Pilot, GAAR, 6/25]
A British military Jaguar fighter bomber conducting exercises with Eielson AFB crashed in a very remote, steep and rugged section of the park on the evening of Wednesday, July 25th. At the time of the report, wreckage had been spotted from the air, but no one had yet landed at the site. The pilot is believed to have died in the crash. [Dave Mills, Superintendent, YUCH, 7/26]
Additional details have been received on the fatal July 25th crash of the RAF Jaguar jet fighter in the park. The pilot has been identified as 28-year-old flight lieutenant J.H. of the Royal Air Force. J.H. was participating in Cooperative Cope Thunder, an Alaska-wide multi-national military air exercise. He was reported overdue at 12:30 p.m. on the 25th and the wreckage was located at 5 p.m. in a tributary of the Charley River. A British investigation team was dispatched to the site to determine the cause of the accident. Access to the area has been difficult due to poor weather and precipitous terrain. NPS personnel provided assistance to the RAF. The aircraft was totally destroyed in the impact and the explosion that likely followed. Only a few small pieces of the Jaguar were visible from the air. Cleanup operations are being conducted by USAF and RAF and will likely continue for several weeks. [Kevin Fox, Chief of Operations/Pilot, YUCH, 8/1]
G.B., 47, of Orem, Utah, was leading a group of Boy Scouts on
a strenuous hike up the Angels Landing trail on June 11th when he began
experiencing chest and jaw pains around noon. A companion used a cell
phone to call dispatch and a park medic was immediately sent to the
scene. A doctor from Colorado who was on the trail helped stabilize
G.B. until the medic arrived. Because of G.B.'s condition and
location on an exposed section of the trail, a decision was made to call
in the helicopter from Grand Canyon NP to extricate him. The
alternatives were to either set up a rope system to lower G.B. down
from the trail or carry him out by litter, both of which would have
taken too much time. The helicopter arrived on scene just after 3 p.m. A
medic was lowered from the helicopter to G.B.'s location. He was
secured in a harness, then air-lifted along with the medic from Angles
Landing to nearby Zion Lodge. An ambulance picked him up there and took
him to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Doctor's determined
that he'd suffered an anterior myocardial infarction. His condition was
not known at the time of the report.
On July 2nd, C.S., a resident of Eagle, Alaska, and two children
visiting from Logan, Utah, departed Eagle at 10:30 a.m. in C.S.'s
flat-bottom boat to check her subsistence fish net. This net was
placed in the Yukon River approximately six miles downriver from Eagle,
and C.S. was expected to return around noon. When she and the children
failed to return, local residents started a search by private boat and
airplane. By early evening, they had still not been located. Due to
heavy smoke caused by several local wildfires and the lack of any fixed
wing aircraft to fly into this area, Alaska state troopers asked that
rangers from Yukon-Charley Rivers conduct a search. Park staff put two
boats on the Yukon River and started to search from Eagle through the
park. They were assisted by a contract helicopter crew that was in Eagle
to monitor fires. At approximately 10:30 p.m., C.S. and the children
were located by the helicopter crew at the base of Kathul Mountain,
approximately 68 miles downriver from Eagle and inside the boundaries of
Yukon-Charley Rivers NP. All three were in good condition and were
transported back to Eagle on the helicopter.
On May 25th, Yukon-Charley rangers received a report of a burglary from a private residence along the Yukon River near the park's boundary. The home and workshop had been forcibly entered and ransacked, and weapons, ammunition, food, equipment and supplies had been taken from the property. Rangers patrolling in the area at the time of the report stopped to check on the welfare of the homeowner and observed the damage to the property and some evidence left at the scene. The owner reported the incident to the Alaska State Troopers in Tok, who have jurisdiction over the private lands in and around the park. Utilizing information provided by local Eagle residents and patrol observations from park staff, the park was able to provide information on suspects to the troopers. The three suspects had reportedly sold their vehicle in Eagle prior to launching their canoes soon after the break-up of the Yukon River. They capsized their canoes and lost two rifles and most of their supplies during their attempt. On May 12th, they launched a donated flat-bottom boat without a motor and with minimal equipment and supplies. Around the time of the burglary, the trio had been seen near a camp within a few miles of the property. Rangers later saw their boat near a cabin on private property within park boundaries. State troopers responded and asked rangers to assist under the terms of an MOA between the agencies. On May 26th, two troopers boated to the suspects' location, about 25 miles downriver from Eagle. They were joined by three rangers from Yukon-Charley Rivers and two ranger/pilots from Wrangell-St. Elias in two boats and an airplane. Photos were first taken of the cabin and environs from the air early in the day. Troopers and rangers then contacted two men near the shoreline. A handgun was removed from one of the men. Officers approached the cabin, located about 200 feet from the shoreline and concealed by dense brush. They found the third man behind the cabin. A loaded SKS rifle equipped with a scope was found positioned at the rear of the cabin and was seized. Stolen property was found in plain view in the cabin and all three were arrested - a 44-year-old man from Texas, a 27-year-old man from Montana, and an 18-year-old man from Alaska. Seven loaded rifles and shotguns and three loaded handguns were seized at the scene. Other stolen property from three properties along the Yukon was recovered. Several wildlife violations are also being investigated. The three men were indicted on Thursday, June 1st, on counts of first-degree burglary, second-degree theft, and third-degree criminal mischief. Investigations continue on charges of taking game out of season, wanton waste and unlawfully possessing and transporting game. [Maura Longden and Dave Mills]
A visitor from Eagle River was seriously injured in a boating accident on the Yukon River on September 9th. At approximately 8 p.m., the boat, carrying three hunters, hit a gravel bar near Slaven's Roadhouse, approximately 100 miles downriver from Eagle. One of the men was thrown from his seat into the boat's interior framing and sustained head and neck trauma and a dislocated shoulder. He lost mobility in his arms and legs, briefly lost consciousness, and experienced difficulty breathing. His two companions used an air horn on board to alert a party of hunters at Slaven's. They boated to the accident scene, then traveled overland to report the accident to NPS staff on patrol in the area. NPS dispatch notified Alaska State Troopers and a MAST helicopter was dispatched to the scene. A park ranger/medic and a second ranger responded overland, then by boat, and provided emergency medical care to the injured man. He was immobilized, extricated from the boat, transported by NPS vessel to a landing zone near Slaven's Roadhouse, and flown by helicopter to a hospital. At last report, his condition was improving and he was recovering some mobility in his extremities. [Maura Longden, Chief of Operations]
Flooding on the Yukon River has caused significant damage in the park's gateway communities, Eagle and Eagle Village, including losses to employee homes, and led to the evacuation on Tuesday afternoon of at least one family living near the National Park Service unit. There is a high potential for additional damage to National Park Service assets in Eagle and in several locations downstream within the 2.5 million acre preserve. Flood waters are being driven by a combination of higher than usual snow pack (up to 150% of normal), higher than usual ice formation on the river (up to 140% of normal), and several days of unseasonably warm weather that has caused rapid melting and ice movement downstream on the Yukon. Using an NPS charter helicopter, rangers evacuated a couple living just outside the preserve boundary about 12 miles downstream of Eagle. The family had seen one of their sled dogs and riverboat crushed by ice on Monday night and was in significant danger. The couple was evacuated from their cabin's roof along with their remaining 24 sled dogs on Tuesday afternoon and flown to Eagle. Rangers are evaluating options for evacuating up to five other people who live on private land within the preserve and who are in danger from the ice and high water. "We're concerned about our neighbors and will be seeing how we can best help out," said Greg Dudgeon, superintendent at Yukon-Charley Rivers. "We've got employees in Eagle who have lost property as well, so we'll be looking out for them and moving in staff and supplies from Fairbanks to assist them." Eagle Village, about three to four miles from the NPS field headquarters in Eagle, has seen many of its buildings damaged or destroyed by flooding. Within Eagle, at least two employee homes have had water damage and one of them had water up to the second story. An estimated ten homes in Eagle had been damaged or destroyed, and an estimated 30 of the area's 125 residents were homeless as of Tuesday morning. Dudgeon said on Tuesday that several Eagle Village residents were reported to be stranded by the flood waters, and that a second National Park Service helicopter would be providing either evacuation or bringing supplies to those families later that day. As of Tuesday afternoon, the NPS had provided the only emergency air response in this northeastern Alaska community. The park has also flown reconnaissance flights up and down river from Eagle and reported significant ice between Eagle and the Canadian border which could cause additional ice jams and flooding as it moves downstream over the balance of the week. Park staff and a NPS Type II team flown in from Fairbanks have assisted the community by providing packaged meals, water and toiletries to the Eagle school, which is serving as an evacuation center. The staff has also evacuating its own computer equipment, historical documents and other vulnerable supplies to NPS buildings on higher ground in Eagle. After the flooding subsides, Yukon-Charley staff will assess damage downstream to resources in the preserve. Flooding and ice movement along the riverbanks is common, but this year's damage likely will be significantly above the usual flood levels. The preserve maintains several historical public use cabins along the river, including the landmark two-story Slaven's Roadhouse at Coal Creek. Other smaller cabins and artifacts from the early 1900s and earlier dot the riverbanks. An additional concern is that house debris, fuel tanks and other waste from damaged residences will wash through the preserve this spring, causing possible cleanup work for the NPS. [John Quinley, Public Affairs Officer, Alaska Regional Office]
The water levels along the Yukon River in Eagle, Alaska, have dropped since they rose again Wednesday evening and the flood warning for the community has been cancelled. The NPS incident management team, comprised of employees from Eagle and Fairbanks, continued with the cleanup of NPS facilities in Eagle and began checking facilities in the preserve to determine the extent of damage. Yesterday's priorities included flying to check on the status of residents along the river, distributing supplies and equipment, and assessing the condition of public use cabins, historic structures, and other park resources downriver from Eagle. All of the preserve residents contacted were high and dry, and some park facilities may have escaped the river's wrath. Slaven's Roadhouse appears to be undamaged, but the Glenn Creek public use cabin may have sustained some structural damage. These assessments will be ongoing in coming days. The status and well-being of the Eagle-based employees continues to be the NPS's highest priority, and the Service will continue to assist them and the state's emergency response efforts in the Eagle community. Two park employees have lost their homes and are in temporary living situations. A cabin owned by another park employee sustained damage, and the seasonal employee living there has been displaced. Fairbanks Administrative Center employees in Fairbanks are organizing donations of supplies that will be brought into Eagle during the next few days. The smell of fuel permeates the community of Eagle, as many tanks have spilled or were ruptured by the ice. A state emergency command team is on site, and today they were assessing the hazardous materials situation. It was determined this afternoon that the community well has been contaminated with bacteria, and arrangements are being made to bring in additional potable water. The park office in Eagle has its own well, and the staff will send in samples to determine its status. The NPS incident management team will demobilize at the end of the day on Friday, but the Fairbanks Administrative Center will continue to provide extra staff and other assistance to the Eagle operation for the foreseeable future. The Alaska Fire Service helicopter that has been utilized for rescue efforts and hauling supplies and equipment since the flood event began late Sunday was released yesterday. The park has established a special account for the NPS employees in Alaska and elsewhere who wish to donate money to assist the Eagle NPS employees who have lost their homes and other possessions. Checks made out to the "National Park Service" can be sent to Monica Cross, Fairbanks Administrative Center, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99508. The Red Cross is taking donations for flood relief in Eagle and other locations. Donations can be made to the Fairbanks office, 725 26th Avenue or by calling (907) 456-5937. Images from the flood event and further information on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve is available on-line at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/yuch". [Kris Fister, Public Affairs Officer]
The NPS flood response is transitioning to its next phase, which is that of short- and long-term recovery. The incident management team demobilized on Friday, and park employees in Eagle are returning to normal duties (as normal as possible) in their flood-ravaged community. The NPS will continue to assist the state's flood recovery efforts in Eagle, but the highest priority is to provide support to the Eagle-based staff and assist them to the best degree possible as they deal with the loss of homes, belongings, and communities. James Savage will be remaining in Eagle to act as the NPS liaison with the state's incident management team. Other NPS staff will go to Eagle to assist with recovery efforts as their skills and expertise are needed. Initial overflights of the historic structures and public use cabins along the river indicate that they are still present, but may have sustained some degree of water and/or structural damage. When the ice melts and the river level drops, a more thorough assessment will be made. In order to facilitate monetary donations, Alaska Geographic has graciously agreed to set up a donation fund for Eagle NPS staff and residents and has made the first donation. Checks can be made out to "Alaska Geographic - Eagle Fund" and sent to either Julia Youngblood, Fairbanks Administrative Center, 4175 Geist Road, Fairbanks, AK 99709, or Suzy Wooliver, Alaska Region Office, 240 West 5th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. The Alaska Geographic fund provides more flexibility in how donations can be utilized. The use of funds from an NPS donation account would be more restricted. [Kris Fister, IO]
The Yukon River began breaking up last Thursday night and ice jams are causing flooding in Eagle and Eagle Village. Water and ice are lapping at the sides of buildings nearest the riverfront and Eagle Village is cut off from Eagle. Water levels have dropped some in Eagle due to a good flow in the main river channel. For more information and photos, please visit either HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/AlaskaNPS" or HYPERLINK "https://www.facebook.com/YukonCharleyRiversNPS". Updates will continue to be posted at these social media sites and HYPERLINK "http://twitter.com/AlaskaNPS". [Morgan Warthin]
Flooding has subsided in Eagle, a town of 100 people just south of Yukon-Charley Rivers NP and home to NPS employees and the park's administrative office. When breakup began on the Yukon River on May 18th, ice jams caused flooding to the historic town. As of May 21st, ice remains jam-packed between Belle Isle and Eagle and huge chunks of ice, nearly 30 feet thick, sit on the shore. Efforts to reopen the road to Eagle Village were underway yesterday afternoon, with crews employing heavy equipment to clear a path through debris. Residents are aware of and prepared for a surge of water that is headed towards Eagle from the breakup of the Stewart River in Canada and big chunks of ice from the Fortymile River. For more information, see the HYPERLINK "https://www.facebook.com/YukonCharleyRiversNPS" Yukon-Charley Rivers Facebook page and the HYPERLINK "https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaNPS" Alaska Region Facebook page. [Morgan Warthin, Regional Wildland Fire Communications & Education Specialist] July 13, 2022 On July 4, a lightning strike-caused fire was discovered across the Yukon River from Chester Bluff, above the east bank of the Charley and Yukon River confluence. Four Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers parachuted in to protect historic structures on July 5, and the following day, a nine-person wildland fire module arrived to assist. As of July 12, the Biederman Fire was 1,088 acres and 100% contained. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Wildland Fire Information
On July 24, the Biederman Fire #192 was discovered north of Biederman Bluff on the Yukon River, five miles northwest of the Kandik-Yukon Rivers confluence. The fire is being monitored by Alaska Fire Service aircraft. As of July 25, it was 64.5 acres and 50% active. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve On July 27, the Ruby Creek Fire #282 was discovered by reconnaissance aircraft, located in the Upper Charley River, south of Three Fingers airstrip. As of July 28, it was 15 acres. It is being monitored by Alaska Fire Service aircraft. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
On July 24, the Biederman Fire #192 was discovered north of Biederman Bluff on the Yukon River, five miles northwest of the Kandik-Yukon Rivers confluence. The fire is being monitored by Alaska Fire Service aircraft. As of August 18, it was 76 acres. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center On July 27, the Ruby Creek Fire #282 was discovered by reconnaissance aircraft, located in the Upper Charley River, south of Three Fingers airstrip. As of August 18, it was 60 acres. It is being monitored by Alaska Fire Service aircraft. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center
On July 24, the Biederman Fire #192 was discovered north of Biederman Bluff on the Yukon River, five miles northwest of the Kandik-Yukon Rivers confluence. On August 23, an agency aircraft observed no smoke and no fire activity. The fire burned 76 acres. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center On July 27, the Ruby Creek Fire #282 was discovered by reconnaissance aircraft, located in the Upper Charley River, south of Three Fingers airstrip. As of August 21, a detection flight observed a 0% active perimeter and no active fire behavior. The fire burned 60 acres. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Interagency Coordination Center
On June 24, park staff observed the Coal Creek Camp Mess Hall "fully engulfed" in fire. Staff from the divisions of wildland fire, maintenance, and historic preservation established a portable water pump and hoses and worked for several hours to prevent the fire from spreading to the wildland interface. The Bureau of Land Management - Alaska Fire Service and NPS Alaska Region Communication Center also supported the incident. The Coal Creek Camp Mess Hall, Shower House, sluice box, and Bobcat skid-steer were destroyed in the fire. The origin and cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation. Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
On May 25, the Kathul Fire was discovered burning across the Yukon River from Kathul Mountain, east of Washington Creek. Smokejumpers were deployed to protect the Washington Creek Cabin, and have since demobilized. As of June 7, the fire is estimated at 1,009 acres and will remain in "monitor status." Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Wildland Fire Information
On May 25, the Kathul Fire was discovered burning across the Yukon River from Kathul Mountain, east of Washington Creek. Smokejumpers were deployed to protect the Washington Creek Cabin, and have since demobilized. As of June 7, the fire was estimated at 1,009 acres and "no significant activity was observed." Source: Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, Alaska Wildland Fire Information | |