Fire that prompted evacuation of Rainy Pass Lodge ‘will not grow any larger,’ fire managers say

Fire managers say they don’t expect the 96-acre fire near Rainy Pass Lodge to get any bigger after Friday’s rainfall.

A little less than a quarter-inch of rain fell on the area Friday, which helped subdue the lightning-sparked fire, officials with the Alaska Division of Forestry said in an update Saturday.

“The fire was 20 percent contained as of Friday night and fire managers are confident the fire will not grow any larger,” the update said.

Earlier in the week, the fire prompted the evacuation of 26 people and two dogs from Rainy Pass Lodge, which serves as an Iditarod checkpoint. Lodge staff members began returning Wednesday to serve the firefighters protecting the lodge.

The fire remained about a mile away from the lodge on Saturday morning and hasn’t crept any closer since Thursday, forestry officials said.

Firefighters and equipment are set to begin leaving the area as early as Sunday.