6/20/2011 Hastings Fire Update
Incident: Hastings Wildfire
Released: 6/20/2011
HASTINGS FIRE SUMMARY
Start date: May 30, 2011 Current Size: 22,819 acres Contained Line: 61%
Ignition source: Under investigation Injuries to date: 12 Structures lost: 2
Total number of personnel: 1002 Cargo transported: 1,155,951 lbs Water drops: 753,242 gallons
On Memorial Day weekend the Hastings Fire started on the north side of the Chatanika River. Fairbanks Area Forestry began a rapid response with initial attack firefighters. With warm temperatures and steady winds the fire quickly grew and threatened many recreational homes. Multiple resources were deployed to control the blaze but record dry conditions, and numerous new starts in the area hampered efforts. Fire managers for Division of Forestry made the decision to have the Alaska Incident Management Team take command of the fire starting May 31, 2011.
Wildland forest fires in Alaska tend to burn in a natural mosaic pattern. Due to weather, terrain, and other factors there are often irregular edges to the fire's perimeter and interior pockets of unburned vegetation remain. The burn patterns on the landscape from the Hasting Fire are a good example of this type of mosaic.
Fire crews have completed containment line around 61% of the fire. Only a portion of the northern edge along Washington Creek remains uncontained. Fire suppression efforts will continue to keep the fire from progressing north. Smoke is anticipated from interior pockets of unburned vegetation and the smoldering northern perimeter.
The process of breaking down remote camps and removing equipment and supplies from the fireline will continue throughout the next few days as crews and overhead personnel are demobilized. Transfer of command of the Hastings Fire will take place on June 22, 2011 to an Alaska Type 3 organization based out of Fairbanks Area Forestry.
A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place over the Hastings Fire. Pilots are advised to use extreme caution in the airspace surrounding the incident, and should check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) for more information. A TFR map is located at http://tfr.faa.gov/save pages/detail 1 8460.html
For a statewide perspective on the current fire situation you can view the AICC website at http://fire.ak.blm.gov/. Check out the Hastings Fire Inciweb site www.inciweb.org/incident/2261/ for maps and photos.
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