Damp, cooler weather Monday helped firefighters carve a much longer protective line of dirt around the Caribou Hills fire, officials said today.
The fire held steady at about 55,000 acres, but men on the ground and bulldozers continued removing trees, grass and other fuels from the fire’s edge, said spokeswoman Kris Eriksen, Division of Forestry.
As of Monday night, firefighters had extended the line around 43 percent of the fire, Eriksen said. The fire was only 10 percent contained Sunday night.
Fire officials have blamed the blaze that began last week on a spark from a power tool. It has destroyed 88 cabins and 109 outbuildings, required more than 500 firefighters and cost an estimated $1.3 million to fight.
Among other work Monday, firefighters extended a line south of Deep Creek to protect the Ninilchik 40 subdivision, Eriksen said. The subdivision is on the fire's western side. That area is less of a concern now, she said.
Bulldozers and men will continue containing the fire and mopping up hot spots today. Drier, sunnier weather has returned and is forecast to continue, she said, but that’s not necessarily bad. Hot spots should smoke or reignite, helping fire fighters on the perimeter identify and douse them quickly, she said.
Firefighters also gained some ground on the 9,700-acre Big Su fire. That fire around Trapper Lake was 15 percent contained Monday night. It was 10 percent contained the day before, said Glen Holt, spokesman. About 250 people are fighting that fire.
The fire, though it remains the same size, has slowly spread to the east and west for the last three days, Eriksen said. That's in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and doesn't threaten dwellings, she said.
Also, Oilwell Road will be opened to residents and cabin owners at 7 tonight and close at 7 a.m. Wednesday. Residents can remain at their cabins but are asked to stay off roads in the morning, when fire crews and equipment are moving.
Find reporter Alex deMarban online at adn.com/contact/ademarban or call 1-907-257-4310.
