Crews fully contain 2 fires in Southwest Alaska

Two fires burning in Southwest Alaska earlier this week have both been fully contained, the Division of Forestry said Saturday.

The Pilot Point fire was fully contained around 7:30 p.m. Friday with a total of 3,750 acres burned, said Division of Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry. The fire, which started at a local dump and spread across the tundra, was first reported Monday.

Twenty-six firefighters were assigned to the fire, according to Mowry.

The Kiktak Island fire, located across the Kuskokwim River from the village of Akiachak, was also fully contained as of about 8 p.m. Friday, with 254 total acres burned.

Local first responders attempted to contain the Kiktak Island fire Monday, but it flared up the next day, Mowry said. Multiple fish camp structures were burned in the fire.

Members of the White Mountain Crew completed a 100-foot grid around the Kiktak Island fire Friday night after identifying and extinguishing 20 hot spots, according to Mowry, and 23 firefighters were assigned to the fire.

“They’re going to continue to grid the fire today. Usually, they try to get 300 feet in from the green into the black,” he said.

Mowry advised Alaskans to be aware of fire danger when recreating outside, especially going into the holiday weekend.

“We did lift burn suspensions in the Mat-Su Valley and the Kenai Peninsula (on Friday) because of changing weather ... people still need to be careful,” he said. “Don’t let your guard down.”