The Moose Creek fire near Sutton was holding its size Thursday as scores of firefighters continued to build a perimeter around the blaze that threatened the Glenn Highway this week.
About 80 firefighters brought the blaze to 70 percent containment by Thursday morning, Alaska Fire Service spokesman Tim Mowry said in an email. The 303-acre fire is believed to have started Saturday at an escaped debris burn.
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"The calmer winds have helped firefighters dig in and secure more line on the western and southern perimeters," Mowry said. "Managers are hoping to have the fire fully contained by the end of shift on Saturday."
Cold weather in the fire area that froze pipes this week has continued, according to Mowry, forcing firefighters to winterize pumps.
Doug Ritchie, a pilot with Northern Pioneer Helicopters who helped fight the King fire — a flare-up near the Moose Creek fire earlier this week — posted a photo of an ice-encrusted Bambi bucket Monday on his Facebook page. The 324-gallon bucket, named after its manufacturer, is slung below helicopters to drop water on fires.
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"When I went out Sunday the straps were iced, and I took a photo because I thought that was pretty exciting," Ritchie said. "Then the next day, when I went out and used it, it was just caked with ice."
Mowry said that although the weather "makes it hard to keep warm and function normally," fire crews have been coping.
"Fortunately, firefighters in Alaska are a pretty tough and resilient bunch so they have been able to power through this and get the job done," Mowry wrote. "They're going through a lot of hot coffee and hot chocolate, though, I can tell you that."