The Isom Creek Fire burning along the Dalton Highway south of the Yukon River was active again Monday, but Fire Information Officer Sam Harrel says winds primarily drove the flames away from the highway and Trans Alaska Pipeline Monday.
Harrell says protecting Native land allotments and cabins along the river’s south bank remain a top priority for about 250 firefighters working the incident.
"There's a structure-protection group designated, and they're working along the river corridor to identify the allotments and identify the structures and start making plans to defend those allotments should the fires start to advance in that direction.”
Harrel says the plan is to work from a dirt road which bisects the area to protect the allotments, and other values at risk.
"Burning out along that two track and by doing that along the northwest flank and the north side of the fire, and then carrying the line, umtil they can carty it straight north to the south bank of the Yukon River, they're hoping that will prevent the fire from moving on to the west and northwest which would be threatening those allotments along the river, the Yukon River Camp at the river crossing, and of course, Pump Station 6.”
Harrel says the Isom Creek Fire, which was started by lightning Friday, was estimated to have burned a little over 3,000 acres as of Monday night. He cautions that Dalton Highway traffic is being halted intermittently between miles 46 and 62 of the highway for fire operations and urges drivers to proceed cautiously due to smoky conditions and firefighting vehicles on the road.