FAIRBANKS — Fairbanks emergency officials issued evacuation warnings to some residents Sunday as the Shovel Creek wildfire burns nearby.
On Sunday, just after midnight, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Emergency Management raised the evacuation alert for the Martin and Perfect Perch subdivisions, northwest of Fairbanks.
The Level 3 alert indicates an imminent threat and advises residents to evacuate to an emergency shelter immediately.
The Lincoln Creek, McCloud and Murphy subdivisions were at a Level 2, meaning residents there should be ready to evacuate if alerted.
The Chatanika River is at a Level 1, which means residents should be monitoring for changes.
Evacuation orders were still in place as of late Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, incident commander Norm McDonald told residents to heed changes in evacuation warning levels.
“We’re facing a dynamic situation, conditions could change quickly,” McDonald said in a video.
Firefighters have been contending with gusty winds, he said.
“Today our primary objective is to keep that fire north of Murphy Ridge,” McDonald said.
A community meeting on the Shovel Creek Fire was scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Ken Kunkel Community Center on Goldstream Road in Fairbanks.
Emergency officials say residents should have a kit of important items assembled.
Wildfire smoke is degrading air quality throughout the region.
Anchorage Daily News staff contributed to this report.