Goldstream Creek

## Goldstream Creek Fire Report - July 29, 2025 ### Fire Start, Size and Growth **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Goldstream Creek Fire was discovered on June 20, 2025, approximately 16.4 miles northeast of Nenana, Alaska. **Size and Containment**: As of July 28, 2025, the fire has burned 20,483 acres and is 42% contained. Previous reports from July 27, 2025, also indicated a size of 20,483 acres with 41% containment. **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The primary fuel for the Goldstream Creek Fire is black spruce. In the past 72 hours, there has been continued progress in containment efforts. On July 25, the northern edge of the fire was in monitor and patrol status with little activity. Firefighters have been working on establishing containment lines on the eastern portion of the fire, west of Ohio Creek and northeast of Skinny Dick's Road. On July 28, Pike Hotshots were working on a section of uncontained line west of their spike camp and north of Skinny Dick's Road. **Containment Efforts**: The Nenana Ridge Complex, which includes the Goldstream Creek Fire, has seen substantial progress in containment. Unified command efforts involve various firefighting resources, including hotshot crews, Type 2 Initial Attack crews, and bulldozers. Suppression efforts include establishing containment lines, working on snagging operations (removing dead or dangerous trees), and gridding areas to address hotspots. The estimated cost to date for the Goldstream Creek Fire is over $12.6 million. ### Emergency Information **Evacuations and Sheltering:** **Evacuation Status**: Evacuation levels were downgraded on Monday, July 21st, by the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. * **Level 3 'GO!'**: This applies to areas outside the Borough, from the borough's western edge, 4.5 miles west; and from Sled Road north for 7 miles from the Alaska Railroad. This includes Standard Creek Road and nearby timber harvest access areas, as well as areas more than half a mile west of the highway corridor from MP 317 to the borough boundary. Inside the Borough, zones include Skinny Dick's Logging Road, Nenana Ridge Forestry Road, and Bonanza Creek Forestry Area. * **Level 2 'SET'**: Outside the Borough, this applies to residents within half a mile on each side of the highway from MP 317 north to the borough boundary. Inside the Borough, it covers residents within half a mile on each side of the highway from the borough boundary to north MP 338, and the Standard Cache zone. * **Level 1 'READY'**: Outside the Borough, this includes Parks Highway MP 308-317 extending west of the highway to homes along Little Goldstream Road, agricultural areas, and the Alaska Railroad. It also extends east of the highway to homes and agricultural areas west of the Maich Logging Road, including Farmview Subdivision. Inside the Borough, evacuation zones include Parks Mile 338-342, Old Nenana Highway, Standard Creek, Old Ridge Trail, and Cache Creek Road. **Road and Infrastructure Closures:** * Travelers on the Parks Highway are advised to use extra caution between MP 318 to 340 due to firefighters and equipment accessing the fire area. * Pilot car operations are in place through an active construction zone unrelated to the fire. For real-time road updates, visit 511.alaska.gov. * A previous closure of the Goldstream Creek Bridge on Standard Creek Forestry Road was planned for April 1, 2024, due to erosion and safety concerns. Alternative access to the Standard Creek Road system is being planned via Cache Creek Forest Road. **For more information, visit:** * [Alaska Wildland Fire Information](https://www.akfireinfo.com/) * [Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Management](https://fnsb.gov/emergency/home) (Note: Direct link to specific fire page may vary, check their website for updates.) * [Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management](https://ready.alaska.gov/) ### Current Impact **Impacts:** * **Structures Impacted**: No specific reports of structures destroyed or damaged by the Goldstream Creek Fire have been detailed in the provided information from the last 72 hours. However, evacuation orders and warnings indicate that residences are within or near the fire's influence. * **Lives Lost and Injuries**: No information on fatalities or injuries related to the Goldstream Creek Fire has been reported in the last 72 hours. * **Power Outages**: No power outages directly attributed to the Goldstream Creek Fire have been reported in the last 72 hours. * **School and Business Closures**: No school or business closures specifically due to the Goldstream Creek Fire have been reported in the last 72 hours. * **Notable Impacts**: Firefighting efforts have included snagging operations to mitigate hazards from fire-weakened trees along roads and near the highway. Heavy equipment, hazard trees, and ash pits remain potential hazards in the fire area. As hunting season approaches, hunters and recreational users are asked to stay out of the fire areas due to ongoing safety concerns. **Safety Concerns:** * **Burn Bans/Fire Restrictions**: While specific burn bans for the Goldstream Creek Fire area are not detailed in the recent reports, the general context of wildfire activity in Alaska often involves fire restrictions. It is advisable to check local advisories. * **Air Quality**: Smoke from wildfires in Alaska and Canada has been widespread, affecting air quality across the region. While specific air quality reports for the immediate Goldstream Creek Fire area are not detailed in the last 72 hours, residents should monitor local air quality advisories. * **Water Quality**: No specific water quality concerns related to the Goldstream Creek Fire have been reported. ### Ongoing Outlook **Containment Projections**: Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with progress being made in establishing containment lines. The fire remains active, and continued efforts are expected to improve containment percentages. **Weather and Wind Warnings**: * As of July 28, 2025, a cold front is approaching, bringing cooler and moister conditions. * Monday, July 28, 2025, was forecast to be mostly cloudy with numerous showers. * Temperatures were expected to reach a maximum of 64 degrees Fahrenheit, with relative humidity around 67%. * Surface winds were forecast to be southwest between 6 and 9 mph, with winds at the ridgetops between 10 to 20 mph out of the southwest. * A high-pressure system was expected to continue through the weekend prior (July 26-27), creating fair weather conditions with moderate warming and drying. Saturday, July 26, was forecast to be mostly sunny with a 1% chance of rain, a maximum temperature of 73 degrees, and northeast winds at 5-10 mph. There was a possibility of increased fire behavior on Saturday due to the weather drying out the fuel bed. ### Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate **Cause**: The cause of the Goldstream Creek Fire is listed as natural. **Weather and Climate**: The fire's activity and growth are influenced by weather conditions. Hot, dry, and windy conditions have previously fueled aggressive fire growth. The current forecast indicates a shift towards cooler and moister conditions with showers, which is generally beneficial for firefighting efforts. However, periods of drying and warming can increase fire behavior, as noted for the weekend of July 26-27. The overall climate in Alaska, with its vast expanses of boreal forest (primarily black spruce), contributes to the potential for large wildfire events, especially during warmer and drier periods. ### For more information, visit: * [Alaska Wildland Fire Information](https://www.akfireinfo.com/) * [Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection](https://forestry.alaska.gov/) * [Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Management](https://fnsb.gov/emergency/home)

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