Caribou Lake Fire northeast of Homer threatens nearly 30 structures

A wildfire about 25 miles northeast of Homer on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula grew rapidly Monday evening, authorities said.

The Caribou Lake fire grew from about 50 acres to 100 acres within an hour Monday, according to the state’s wildfire information website. A Kenai Peninsula Borough emergency response blog said it grew from 50 acres to 150 acres within an hour.

Authorities were not immediately reachable for a status update on the fire early Tuesday.

Smoke jumpers were deployed to work on protecting nearly 30 structures threatened by the fire, authorities said. Aircraft were assisting firefighters on the ground with water and fire retardant drops.

“The fire is 100% active, burning in black spruce, and backing east due to winds from the west,” the post said.

The Caribou Lake fire joins several others across Southcentral Alaska, including the North Fork Fire a few miles northwest of Homer.

Authorities put some communities in that area on notice to be prepared for evacuation. That fire was estimated at 59 acres as of 8 p.m. Monday, officials said.

Firefighters were working Monday evening to fortify a containment line around the body of the North Fork Fire and make sure there were no spot fires outside that line.

Aircraft were diverted from that fire to work on the Caribou Lake Fire, authorities said.

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