Alaska News

80 active fires fill Alaska skies with smoke, Tok a priority

A fire burning west of Tok barred residents of a nearby village and subdivision from their homes for another day Saturday, fire managers said.

But officials were hopeful favorable developments could make for a decision overnight to allow residents of Tanacross, a village of about 150 on the Tanana River, and Eagle Subdivision to return home, according to Sharon Roesch, a fire information officer. Most of those forced out of their homes were staying in Tok.

The latest estimate showed the fire at about 5,000 acres, Roesch said. It was moving Saturday west-northwest along the river away from Tanacross.

Alaska state officials reported Saturday that 80 active fires were smoking up the skies across the state, including 19 fires that started in the previous 24 hours.

The Elliott Highway northwest of Fairbanks was closed Saturday by a rapidly growing fire west of Livengood, said fire information officer Pete Buist. Fire officials were evacuating the Cascaden subdivision.

The Eagle Trail Fire, as the fire near Tok is known, is the priority fire in the state. Fire crews are working to keep the Alaska Highway open between Milepost 1324-1330.

The Eagle Trail Fire was started by lightning on Wednesday.

Daily News staff and wire services

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