Eklutna Lake wildfire grows to 1,300 acres

Fire officials have called a community meeting for 6 p.m. today at the Eklutna campground.

The Eklutna Lake Fire is putting out thick smoke, and fire officials have advised people sensitive to smoke to stay indoors and avoid strenuous physical activity. Smoke was visible in Anchorage on Monday, and officials said it was likely from the Eklutna fire and others burning around the state.

The Eklutna fire began Saturday and was discovered by a Chugach State Park ranger, said John See, a fire official with the Alaska Division of Forestry. The fire grew to 300 acres Sunday then took off on Monday.

The area has been busy with campers and hikers, and fire officials believe it was human caused; that's being investigated, See said.

Forestry division firefighters, along with the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department, are working the fire. As of Monday night, about 100 firefighters in five crews were assigned to the blaze, See said. It's the highest priority fire in the Mat-Su or Anchorage.

Firefighters tried Monday to attack the fire with a burnout operation at its northern perimeter, but the fire whipped around where they were making their stand and they had to pull out, See said. They now are working to pump water from Eklutna Lake to the fire's perimeter, about 400 yards away, he said.

The Eklutna campground remains open although that could change. The East Fork trail is closed. There is a temporary flight restriction for the area.

With the warm, dry weather, fire danger is very high to extreme throughout Southcentral Alaska, according to the forestry division. Campfires in approved enclosures are still allowed but people must have tools and water to extinguish any fire. Fires should not be lit when it's windy, the division says.

Eighty-seven wildfires were burning statewide as of Monday morning. Suppression efforts were focused on saving structures and protecting Native allotments, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordinating Center, which includes the three main agencies that fight wildfires.

One new fire is on the northern Kenai Peninsula about two miles west of Swanson Lake, See said. A resident on the Anchorage Hillside spotted it Monday, See said. It's estimated at 75 acres and fire managers intend to attack it rather than let it burn.

An air tanker trying to douse the Eklutna fire was diverted to the Turquoise Lake Fire, which was making a big run near the south fork of the Kuskokwim River northwest of Anchorage on Monday, See said. It earlier burned the Farewell Lake Lodge. Fire officials are holding a public meeting in Nikolai at 1 p.m. today to discuss that fire, which is estimated at 60,000-plus acres.

Find Lisa Demer online at adn.com/contact/ldemer or call 257-4390.