Crews battle fast-growing fire at Denali National Park entrance

Smoke from a fire burning about a mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve is seen Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Cole Parks Photography)

A fire near the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve quickly expanded Sunday, covering an estimated 300 acres by mid-afternoon, fire officials said.

The Riley Fire started in a black spruce area near the Alaska Railroad, just west across the Nenana River from Mile 239 of the Parks Highway, according to an update from the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service. The fire, which grew from 50 acres to about 750 acres in a matter of hours, did not pose an immediate threat to any structures, Denali National Park officials said in a statement.

At 4 p.m., the BLM Alaska Fire Department reported that firefighters were reporting the fire as “100% active.” Although the fire was growing rapidly, it was still west of the railroad tracks and far from any commercial area in the Nenana River Canyon.

“Water scoopers, an air tanker and helicopters are working to keep the fire west of the railway line and away from populated areas,” fire officials said. According to BLM Alaska Fire Service, twenty-two smokejumpers responded to the Riley Fire, and the Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the McKinley Village Volunteer Fire Department were among the agencies involved in the initial response.

Within the park, westbound tour and transit bus service was halted and officials closed nearby trails and public facilities such as the Denali Visitor Center, park officials said. Day visitors who were west of the park entrance were transported east, the park said.

Smoke could be seen coming from nearby Glitter Gulch, a popular destination for visitors seeking shopping, dining and lodging.

Smoke from a fire burning about a mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve can be seen along the Parks Highway on Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Denali Borough)

Flames and smoke from a fire burning about a mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve are seen on Sunday, June 30, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Cole Parks Photography)

Nearly 130 members of the Golden Valley Electric Association lost power in the Glitter Gulch area, and the utility said on Facebook that it suspects the outages were caused by the fire, though it did not yet know whether electrical structures were damaged or if system protections caused the outages. Line crews were en route to the area to assess power lines, and delays in restoring power are possible if damage occurred, Golden Valley Electric said.

Hot and dry conditions in some areas left other fires burning and sparked more across the state.

Smoke jumpers survey the Montana Creek fire on Saturday, June 29, 2024, before beginning jump operations. (Photo from akfireinfo.com)

In Mat-Su, firefighters continued to battle the Montana Creek Fire Sunday, which started the day before. The blaze — located about 16 miles south of Talkeetna and near Mile 95 of the Parks Highway — grew from a quarter-acre Saturday afternoon to 172 acres Sunday, according to an update from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. One outbuilding was lost to the blaze, firefighters reported.

Federal, state and local agencies responded to the fire with helicopters, shovels and retardant aircraft, and hand crews. Aerial equipment helped cool the fire perimeter and slow its spread enough to allow firefighters to “establish a direct handline and run hoses where safe,” fire officials said.

Officials asked residents along the Leroy Davie Road and Montana Creek Road corridors to be prepared to evacuate at short notice, although no evacuation orders were issued.

Smoke continued to be reported on Parks Highway Sunday. Drivers were asked to use caution and slow down between miles 94 and 100 so crews could safely respond to the fire.

Another fire continued to burn on the Kenai Peninsula Saturday afternoon, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Soldotna, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Tustumena Lake fire, last reported at 140 acres (55 hectares), posed no threat to the public as of Sunday afternoon, fire officials said.

Firefighters were brought to the area by helicopter on Saturday. After helping with firefighting efforts, firefighters requested air support from fire retardants and water scoop aircraft, fire officials said.

People within the Tustumena Lake Road corridor will continue to see smoke and aviation sources in the area, state fire officials said, noting that the Slackwater boat launch on the Kasilof River was closed for fire operations.

Hot, dry conditions in Interior Alaska left several fires still raging across the region on Sunday.

The McDonald Fire remained active, covering more than 145,000 acres as the first attack crew and several hotshot crews responded Sunday, BLM Alaska Fire Service said in an update. “In the coming days, firefighters will continue to look for opportunities to slow or contain the fire as the perimeter continues to grow,” BLM Alaska Fire Service said.

It was expected that it would become cooler from Sunday evening, which would make the fire less likely to break out.

For more information about wildfires in Alaska, visit akfireinfo.com.