Southwest Alaska wildfire burns several structures in fish camp but isn’t a threat to nearby village

A wildfire across the Kuskokwim River from the Southwest Alaska village of Akiachak has spread over about 180 acres and burned several structures in a fish camp, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry.

The fire started Monday when an Akiachak resident picking ferns discarded a cigarette butt, a Division of Forestry statement said.

“A group of villagers fought the fire through the night and thought they had it contained but it kicked up again on Tuesday,” the division wrote.

The fire was burning on the south bank of the Kuskokwim about 2 miles south of Akiachak and 13 miles northeast of Bethel, the division said.

Twelve smokejumper firefighters parachuted into the area Tuesday.

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By Wednesday morning, the fire had spread to about 180 acres, said Tim Mowry, a spokesman for the forestry division. Air tankers and a helicopter dropped retardant and water on the blaze Tuesday, which helped control the head of the fire, which is nearest to Akiachak, he said.

Several structures were burned, but Mowry said it wasn’t clear how many were destroyed.

A wildland firefighting crew from Fairbanks was expected to arrive in the area Wednesday, Mowry said. It was not clear Wednesday morning how much of the fire had been contained.