Firefighters Making "Good Progress" At Denali; Say 10% Contained. Hotshots Arriving From Outside

Two Interagency Hotshot Crews Arrive at Denali National Park to Assist with the Riley Fire 

FROM DENALI PARK SERVICE, TUESDAY, JULY 2ND, 2024 

Denali Park, AK – The Riley Fire continues to be active near the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, requiring park officials to keep the park closed Tuesday, July 2. Smokejumpers and fire crews, combined with strong support from aerial resources, have made good progress over the past 24 hours, particularly along the fire’s southern flank and have officially reached 10% containment. Using better imagery data, fire managers now estimate the fire to be at 388 acres. 

Two interagency hotshot crews from the Lower 48, the Mill Creek and Golden Eagles Hotshots, arrived on site and are establishing a plan for joining the firefighting effort this evening. The southern flank will continue to be worked by crews already established on the fire, many of whom are local and Alaska based firefighters. 

Park tour and transit bus service will remain suspended on Tuesday, July 2. All visitor facilities and park trails remain closed, and the park remains closed to private vehicles and day use visitors. There is as of yet no anticipated date when these facilities will open or operations will resume. Campgrounds and backcountry units west of park headquarters remain open to visitors with existing reservations who are already at their campsites, but no additional campers are being allowed to enter the park.   

(Photo of Fire In Nenana Canyon at Denali National Park Near Park Headquarters) NPS