Alaska Beat

36 wildfires burn across Alaska

With lightning strikes peaking in June, it's no wonder that the first month of summer is typically Alaska's most active wildfires. This June is no exception.

According to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) Situation Report for Friday, in the last week six new fires have added to the already 30 actively burning throuout the state.

The newest fires are all the result of lightning strikes. The center estimates some 280 lightning strikes have been spotted in the last week, bringing the total 2012 summer strikes to 8,675.

Fire personnel are fighting the Otter Creek fire near the Northwest Alaska village of Kiana, the largest in the state. Smokejumpers have been deployed and air attacks are in progress. The fire is 25 percent contained, but continues to grow.

For more on statewide fire activity click here. And to view pictures of KTUU's coverage of active fires, click here.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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