Sikik

## Sikik Fire Report - July 29, 2025 ### Fire Start, Size and Growth **Start Date/Time/Location**: The Sikik Fire was discovered on July 6, 2025, around 11:06 a.m.. The exact location is approximately 60 miles north of Ambler, Alaska, within the Northwest Arctic region. **Size and Containment**: As of July 15, 2025, the fire had burned an estimated 12,325 acres. Another report from July 13, 2025, stated the burn size was 10,093 acres with 0% containment. Recent information from July 24, 2025, indicates the Oskawalik Fire, located about 9 miles south of Crooked Creek, has reached 60% containment and is 1,779 acres. **Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread**: The primary fuel type for the Sikik Fire is brush, specifically brush up to 2 feet in height. The fire is located in an area characterized by high hills within the Arctic Foothills ecoregion, with a landscape dominated by shrubs (99.79%). The Oskawalik Fire, which is in the vicinity, has been driven by steady winds up to 20 mph through a mix of tundra and black spruce. **Containment Efforts**: Information regarding specific containment efforts for the Sikik Fire is limited in the provided data. However, the Oskawalik Fire, which is in the same region, has seen containment efforts including direct attack along the fire's edge and point protection for cabins and Native allotments. Hand crews, supported by air resources, are actively securing the Oskawalik Fire's perimeter, focusing on gridding for hot spots and establishing a buffer zone. ### Emergency Information **Evacuations and Sheltering**: No specific evacuation orders or warnings have been issued for the Sikik Fire in the provided data. However, for other fires in Alaska, such as the Himalayan Fire (June 23, 2025), evacuations were ordered for areas including Bear Creek and Gold King in the Denali Borough, and parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, with over 200 homes evacuated. For the Bear Creek Fire (June 21, 2025), evacuation levels were updated, with areas moved to "GO!" status, advising residents to evacuate, and an evacuation checkpoint was established at the Tri-Valley Community Center. **Road and Infrastructure Closures**: There are no specific road or infrastructure closures reported for the Sikik Fire. However, the Parks Highway has experienced closures and pilot car operations due to the Bear Creek Fire. For real-time highway information and road closures in Alaska, travelers can check https://511.alaska.gov/. **For more information, visit:** * [Alaska Wildland Fire Information](https://akfireinfo.com/) * [Alaska 511 Traveler Information](https://511.alaska.gov/) * [Zoom Earth - Sikik Fire](https://zoom.earth/fires/sikik-fire-alaska/) ### Current Impact **Impacts**: **Structures Impacted**: No structures are reported as impacted by the Sikik Fire in the provided data. However, for the Oskawalik Fire, there is no immediate threat to structures. For the Crooked Creek structure fire on June 21, 2025, two structures were destroyed and another sustained power damage. **School and Business Closures**: No school or business closures are reported in relation to the Sikik Fire. **Notable Impacts**: Widespread smoke from wildfires across northwestern and central Canada is covering northern Alaska, including areas near the Sikik Fire. This smoke can pose health risks. **Safety Concerns:** **Power Outages**: No power outages are reported in relation to the Sikik Fire. **Water Safety**: No water safety concerns have been reported. **Burn Bans/Fire Restrictions**: Information on burn bans or fire restrictions specific to the Sikik Fire is not available in the provided data. **Air Quality**: Smoke from wildfires is impacting air quality in interior Alaska, with moderate to unhealthy conditions reported in areas like Fairbanks, Bettles, and Fort Yukon. This smoke is a result of increased wildfire activity driven by hot, dry, and windy weather. Residents are advised to stay indoors and use air purifiers if necessary. ### Ongoing Outlook **Containment Projections**: Specific containment projections for the Sikik Fire are not detailed in the provided information. However, the Oskawalik Fire, in the same region, has reached 60% containment due to cooler weather patterns and dedicated efforts from hand crews. **Weather and Wind Warnings**: Measurable rainfall has arrived in northwest Alaska, which is expected to slow down fire activity. However, Alaska's fire potential outlook indicates a continued busy fire season with periods of hot, dry, and windy weather that can increase fire activity and the potential for new ignitions. ### Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate **Cause**: The cause of the Sikik Fire is reported as natural. The Oskawalik Fire's cause is unknown. **Weather and Climate**: Alaska has experienced a shift to warmer temperatures and drier conditions, contributing to increased wildfire activity. While recent rainfall has helped moderate fire behavior in some areas, the overall outlook suggests a continuation of conditions conducive to fire spread, including hot, dry, and windy weather. Climate change is generally causing earlier snowmelt and lengthening the wildfire season in Alaska, with an increase in lightning activity in some regions. ### For more information, visit: * [Alaska Wildland Fire Information](https://akfireinfo.com/) * [Alaska 511 Traveler Information](https://511.alaska.gov/) * [Alaska Wildfires Smoke Forecast Page](https://www.airnow.gov/wildfire-smoke-map/)

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