Kenai

Photos: Jim Howard Road fire

Alaska fire officials say they are monitoring the first fire of the season that's required a significant response, a blaze burning a little more than 5 acres on the Kenai Peninsula.

The Jim Howard Road Fire was sparked Monday afternoon, about half a mile south of the village of Nikolaevsk and some 8 miles east of Anchor Point, when a couple with a burn permit left their debris fire unattended for 15 to 20 minutes, Alaska Division of Forestry Kenai and Kodiak area office fire manager Howie Kent said.

"Wind coming from the west took the fire from the couple's burn into the grass, and headed toward neighboring properties," Kent said.

Division of Forestry was notified of the fire at 4 p.m. Monday, and responded in about 25 minutes, Kent said.

According to Kent, the most crucial moment of fighting a wildfire is within the first hour after it has been sparked.

"If we can get there within that first hour, and we have enough support, we are likely to catch the fire," Kent said. "If we got a fire that is further out, harder to get to, or more remote, we'll have problems accessing the fire. The first hour is critical."

Read more: 'Unattended Kenai Peninsula debris burn sparks season's first significant wildfire'

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