Approximate Location
Incident Overview
The Hard Luck Creek Fire lies between Murphy Dome and the Chatanika River approximately 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks, AK. It started on August 3, 2009, and it is burning in black spruce and mixed hardwoods. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A New Mexico Type II Incident Management Team assumed management of the fire from local resources on August 5, 2009.
Four structures have been burned to date: 2 cabins, a summer home, and an outbuilding. There have been 2 firefighter injuries thus far. No evacuations have occurred, nor are any anticipated at this time.
The fire lies within the "full" response classification as described in the Alaska interagency fire management plan, and the management goal is to use suppression tactics to achieve control of the fire.
Objectives guiding the daily activities of the Incident Management Team are as follows:
- Provide for firefighter and public safety
- Minimize acreage gain in "full" protection
- Protect structures under "full" protection. Follow State cabin protection policy
- Minimize acreage increase in "full" protection in the Tanana Valley State Forest and commercial State lands
- Protect native allotments
- Protect the Murphy Dome military site
- Adhere to heavy equipment guidelines
- Avoid dropping retardant adjacent to streams and waters
For a description of each day's activities on the fire, please see the "Recent Articles" section to the right.
Closures and restrictions: Although the 14-mile Trail (Bennett Highway) is not closed, the public is strongly discouraged from using the road due to low visibility and large amounts of firefighting personnel and equipment on the road. The restriction on firewood cutting on State lands has been lifted. The restriction on open fires in designated Game Management Units has also been lifted.
Basic Information
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
|---|---|
| Cause | Under Investigation |
| Date of Origin | Monday August 03rd, 2009 approx. 12:48 PM |
| Location | W of Murphy Dome; 20 nautical miles NW of Fairbanks |
| Incident Commander | Craig Cowie |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 345 |
|---|---|
| Size | 12,834 acres |
| Percent Contained | 80% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Monday August 17th, 2009 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Closed timber litter, black spruce and mixed hardwoods |
| Fire Behavior | Smoldering |
| Significant Events | Backhauling pumps, hose and sprinklers from Division B. Mopped-up 100-200 feet from the line in all divisions. Repaired road near DP1 with filter fabric and rock near. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Finish hand line construction on Division A in the NW corner of the fire. Backhaul pumps, hose and sprinklers from DP1 and DP2. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Low |
| Terrain Difficulty | High |
| Remarks | Approximatly .75 of an inch of precipitation fell on the fire in the last 24 hours. Wet and muddy conditions have greatly hampered crews progress and the backhaul of equipment and supplies. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 7 mph W |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 60 degrees |
| Humidity | 64% |
