Ikheenjik

### Ikheenjik Fire Report - July 29, 2025 ### Fire Start, Size and Growth * **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Ikheenjik Fire was discovered on June 20, 2025, at approximately 1:33 a.m.. The exact location of the start is not specified in the provided information, but it is located in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area of Alaska. * **Size and Containment**: As of July 22, 2025, the Ikheenjik Fire was reported to be 18,615 acres and was being monitored. Earlier reports from July 15, 2025, indicated a size of 18,458 acres. Another report from July 5, 2025, listed the fire at 9,289 acres. The fire has merged with the Turtle Fire, and as of July 28, 2025, the combined acreage was an estimated 35,991 acres. Containment figures for the Ikheenjik Fire specifically are not consistently reported in the provided snippets, but other fires in the Ptarmigan Complex, which includes Ikheenjik, have seen increased containment efforts. * **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The fire is naturally caused. Information on the specific fuels contributing to its spread is limited, but it is burning in an area with significant forest cover. The fire has exhibited extreme fire behavior and merged with the Turtle Fire. It has been actively spreading, with reports of it making a run toward the Steese Highway. * **Containment Efforts**: Firefighters are monitoring the eastern flank of the Ikheenjik Fire. The fire is part of the Ptarmigan Complex, and efforts are underway to manage the fires within this complex. Resources have been mobilized to the area, including smokejumpers and hotshot crews. ### Emergency Information * **Evacuations and Sheltering**: * **Evacuation Alerts**: On June 20, 2025, a Level 1 "Ready" evacuation alert was issued for the community of Central, Steese Highway from Milepost 123 to Milepost 151, Circle Hot Springs Road and Circle Hot Springs, and Deadwood Creek Road due to increased fire activity from the Ikheenjik and Turtle fires. * **Evacuation Orders/Warnings**: While specific evacuation orders or warnings for the Ikheenjik Fire itself are not detailed in the provided snippets, other fires in the region have led to evacuations. For instance, the Himalayan Fire in 2025 caused evacuations of hundreds of homes near Fairbanks, Healy, and Tok. The Seven Mile Lookout Fire near Tok also prompted evacuations. * **Evacuation Shelters**: Information on specific evacuation shelters for the Ikheenjik Fire is not provided. However, in other similar situations in Alaska, emergency shelters have been set up for evacuees and their animals. * **Impacted Population**: The number of people impacted by evacuations related to the Ikheenjik Fire is not specified. * **Road and Infrastructure Closures**: * The Lower Birch Creek Wayside near mile 140 of the Steese Highway was closed on June 23, 2025, due to ongoing wildland fire activity associated with the Turtle and Ikheenjik fires. This closure restricted river access and parking for Birch Creek Wild and Scenic River. Visitors planning to float Birch Creek were advised to be cautious of fire activity and make alternate take-out plans. * General information for road conditions in Alaska can be found via Alaska 511. * **For more information, visit:** * Alaska Wildland Fire Information: [https://fire.ak.blm.gov/aicc.php](https://fire.ak.blm.gov/aicc.php) * Alaska Fire Service: [https://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService](https://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService) * Alaska Interagency Fire Information Office: (907) 356-5511 ### Current Impact * **Impacts**: * **Structures Impacted**: Specific information on structures destroyed or impacted by the Ikheenjik Fire is not detailed in the provided snippets. However, other fires in Interior Alaska have led to homes and structures burning. * **Injuries and Fatalities**: No injuries or fatalities have been reported in connection with the Ikheenjik Fire in the provided information. * **Power Outages**: No power outages related to the Ikheenjik Fire are mentioned. * **Air Quality**: Smoke from wildfires in Alaska, including those in the northeastern region, has been widespread and can affect air quality. Communities near active fires may experience periods of degraded air quality. For current air quality information, residents are advised to visit the Fire and Smoke Map or the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation's wildfire smoke page. * **Safety Concerns**: * **Burn Bans/Fire Restrictions**: Information on specific burn bans or fire restrictions related to the Ikheenjik Fire is not provided. However, given the wildfire activity in Alaska, it is advisable to check for local restrictions. * **Other Health Risks**: Smoke from wildfires can pose health risks, particularly to individuals with respiratory conditions. Staying informed about air quality and taking precautions such as staying indoors and using air purifiers when necessary is recommended. ### Ongoing Outlook * **Containment Projections**: Firefighters are actively monitoring the Ikheenjik Fire and working on containment efforts as part of the larger Ptarmigan Complex. While specific containment percentages for Ikheenjik are not readily available, progress is being made on other fires within the complex. * **Weather and Wind Warnings**: As of July 28, 2025, a cooler, wetter weather pattern was forecasted for northeastern Alaska, with rain showers and a chance of isolated thunderstorms expected through the night. Southwest winds were expected to continue for a few days. Earlier in the season, critical fire weather conditions, including hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and winds, were observed, leading to red flag warnings. ### Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate * **Cause**: The Ikheenjik Fire is attributed to natural causes, specifically lightning. * **Weather and Climate**: The fire's activity is influenced by Alaska's weather patterns. While a cooler and wetter forecast was anticipated in late July, earlier in the season, hot and dry conditions, combined with lightning, contributed to fire ignition and spread. Alaska's fire season is characterized by periods of dry fuels and increased lightning activity, which can lead to rapid fire growth. The accumulation of duff (organic material) in Alaska's ecosystems also plays a role in fire behavior, allowing fires to smolder and spread. ### For more information, visit: * Alaska Wildland Fire Information: [https://fire.ak.blm.gov/aicc.php](https://fire.ak.blm.gov/aicc.php) * Alaska Fire Service: [https://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService](https://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService) * Alaska Department of Natural Resources - Division of Forestry and Fire Protection: [https://dnr.alaska.gov/forestry](https://dnr.alaska.gov/forestry)

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