High Winds Whip Up Fires North Of The Copper River Valley East Of Delta Junction
Gusty winds cause morning flareups on Sawmill Creek Fire BY ALASKA DIVISION OF FORESTRY & FIRE PROTECTION on MAY 19, 2026 Multip...
Gusty winds cause morning flareups on Sawmill Creek Fire
Multiple fires make up the 14.8-acre Sawmill Creek Fire (#079) burning on the northern end of the Delta Agriculture Project, near the end of Sawmill Creek Road, east of Delta Junction. An agricultural burn escaped into the trees onto state land along the Gerstle River. Gusty winds, passing storm cells with rain and erratic winds challenged firefighters. The fire spotted across the river in three places Monday evening, carried there by storm driven winds. Division of Alaska Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) resources from Delta responded along with firefighters from Delta Fire Department and Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department and local heavy equipment operators. Delta Forestry Helitack responded with its crew and conducted bucket operations. DFFP White Mountain Type 2 Initial Attack Crew responded from Fairbanks, Alaska Smokejumpers were deployed and Tanana Chiefs T2 Crew responded. Firefighters worked late into Monday evening. By the end of shift the smaller of the two main fires had dozer line with a hose lay all the way around it. Firefighters had been able to construct saw line along the western and eastern flanks of the larger main fire. Smokejumpers utilized their Packrafts to cross the Gerstle River and engaged with the three spot fires. All of the fires moderated into the evening, showing little activity.
Tuesday morning due to gusty winds, the eastern flank of the fire flared up. White Mountain and Tanana Chiefs crews went right to work on the eastern flank knocking down the active fire. They continue to work both flanks of the larger fire cutting saw line and building hose lays. TCC is working on the west side and have a stretch of 10-feet-wide perimeter mopped up. White Mountain is on the east side working a 5-feet-wide stretch of perimeter mopped up. Crews are moving cautiously as the winds are toppling fire weakened trees over.
DFFP Unmanned Aerial Systems are flying over the fire seeking out hot spots and guiding firefighters to them so they can be extinguished. The drone will also check out the spots across the Gerstle to see if they are holding heat. The drone will search the green areas to make sure no additional spots are missed.
The Alaska Smokejumpers were released from the fire Tuesday morning and have returned to their base on Fort Wainwright to be available for new fires.
