Update, 8:45 a.m. Friday:
State forestry officials say an escaped campfire off the Plumley-Maud Trail started the 21-acre McRoberts Creek fire across the Matanuska River from Palmer.
The fire, first reported around 10 p.m. Wednesday, was 100 percent contained by crews Thursday night.
A total of 54 state and Mat-Su Borough firefighters remained on the fire Friday morning, focusing on areas where flames continue to smolder, a forestry spokeswoman said.
The investigation into the campfire continues.
ORIGINAL STORY:
BUTTE -- State wildland fire crews are battling a 21-acre fire burning through dry grass and black spruce in the Knik River valley.
Concerns about dry, windy conditions have prompted the Alaska Division of Forestry to call in a second crew of firefighters from McGrath, officials say.
The fire, which started off a trail between Maud and Plumley roads in Butte, was within about three-quarters of a mile of homes as of Thursday morning, according to Palmer-based state fire management officer Norm McDonald. The cause was still under investigation; the fire started just off the Plumley-Maud Trail.
No homes were threatened as of late morning Thursday, though some residents in the area said they were making sure they had evacuation plans in place just in case.
First reported around 10 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was burning through grass with 4- to 5-foot flames and "torching" within stands of spruce, McDonald said. Residents reported flames visible from as far away as the bridge over the Matanuska River near Palmer and heavy smoke filtering into homes overnight.
Firefighters want to get a handle on the fire before forecasted winds and continued dry conditions allow it to spread further. State crews are working with support from Butte responders because the fire is outside the local service area, officials say.
The 22-person Pioneer Peak hotshot crew based in Palmer ran hoses from a nearby creek to the fire and spent the night clearing brush and trees in the area around the blaze to slow its progress, McDonald said. The Gannett Glacier hotshot crew from McGrath is en route.
It was "a real bonus" to get the Pioneer Peak crew out to the fire so fast Wednesday night, given how fast-moving it was, said Sarah Saarloos, an information officer for the state Division of Forestry.
Forestry also plans to get air power on the fire this morning after being unable to fly Wednesday night. A water-dropping plane got off the ground late Wednesday and circled the fire but had to turn back at nightfall, around 11 p.m., McDonald said. The pilot helped guide crews to the fire.
A state helicopter couldn't fly Wednesday night because the pilot's duty day was over, he said.
Forestry's offices in Palmer got numerous calls from worried residents Wednesday night, McDonald said.
"There's definitely a lot of concern, which with the dry conditions is definitely understandable."
The National Weather Service has issued a "red flag" warning for extreme fire danger from dry, windy weather from Bristol Bay to Fairbanks, an area that includes Anchorage, the Matanuska, Susitna and Copper River valleys, McGrath and the eastern Kenai Peninsula.
Forestry officials have also suspended burn permits in high-fire-danger areas.
This is a developing story; check back for updates.
Contact Zaz Hollander at zhollander@adn.com or 257-4317.