Winter Trail fire 95% contained

Mop up continued in divisions F and A, where 300` interior mop up is complete. Crews continued toward 300` mop up in divisions N and W. Observed fire behavior included smoldering in mixed hardwoods. Crews will continue to work toward 300` mop up and grid in all divisions. Gannett Glacier T2IA and Nondalton T2 crews will demob at 1400. The fire will be flown with palm IR from helicopter. Helicopter 99675 demobed at 1100 on 6/22 and helicopter 500EH will tentatively demob at 1400 on 6/24. 122 personell remain on scene. There was no change in size and the fire is 95% contained.

Given that the entire CVIB staff will be deeply immersed in a flood damage mitigation and subsistence workshop over the next 11 days, this is the last CVIB update on this fire unless it flares up again.

Winter trail fire update

Fire behavior increased as drying continued. Some creeping was observed, mainly in mixed hardwood stands. Pioneer Peak IHC worked to secure the perimeter in division N. Some activity near the perimeter by the division N/W break required bucket work from a helicopter. Mop up continued 200`-300` in from the perimeter on divisions A and F. Division W was unstaffed. On 6/23, crews will continue mopping up 300` in on Division A, F, and W. Mop up will begin in division N. Firefighters will patrol the perimeter. Reduction in size (-91 acres) is due to more accurate GPS mapping from a helicopter. 122 personnel remain on scene. The fire is 80% contained.

Fire is 70% contained

Monday June 22 update:
Name: Winter Trail
Cause: Human
282 CALIS
Lat: 61:35:33
Lon: 159:50:26
Personnel: 143
Acres: 2,400.0
Start Date: 6/17/09

Taking advantage of the weather, and fire behavior moderation, crews continued working the fire perimeter. Good progress was made up the West flank in division F, as crews made it from H-30, North around the head of the fire securing the line to the division F/N break. Crews mopped up in 100` from H-30 to the Kuskokwim River. The Chena IHC demobed and returned to Fairbanks. Fire behavior was limited to smoldering under mixed hardwoods and there was no change in size. On 6/22, crews will continue securing the perimeter from the division F/N break South through division N toward division W. Crews will begin mop up in division F. Mop up to continue to 300` in division A. The TFR was removed from the fire area. 143 personnel remain on the fire. The fire is now 70% contained.

Winter Trail fire slows

Sunday June 21 update:
Name: Winter Trail
Cause: Human
282 CALIS
Lat: 61:35:33
Lon: 159:50:26
Personnel: 137
Acres: 2,400.0
Start Date: 6/17/09

A type 3 management organization is in place. Due to cooler and wetter weather, and subsequent fire behavior, fire managers have chosen to attack the fire directly. Crews were re-inserted on the fire and began securing the perimeter. Crews made good progress on both flanks of the fire and the fire is 40% contained. Allotment and structure assessments continued along the Kuskokwim River corridor. Observed fire behavior was limited to creeping and smoldering. Crews will continue securing the perimeter from H-30 toward the head of the fire and mop up from H-30 back to the
heel. 137 personnel are working the fire. A TFR remains in place above the fire area. Increase in acreage of 92 acres.

Winter trail fire grows

June 19 update:
Name: Winter Trail
Cause: Human
282 CALIS
Lat: 61:35:33
Lon: 159:50:26
Personnel: 127
Acres: 1,500.0
Start Date: 6/17/09

High winds hampered containment efforts once again. A lack of natural barriers in the area is making containment difficult. The fire has moved off the immediate river corridor in to an area with a large black spruce component and continues to move NW. The cloud ceiling in place over the fire burned off by mid afternoon, and in combination with increased SE winds, led to a sudden increase in fire activity. Fire behavior progressed from creeping and isolated single tree torching to group torching, running, and short range spotting in the afternoon. Crews continued to build and secure line along the flanks of the fire. Good progress was made from the anchor point down both flanks in the morning. The head of the fire was worked throughout the day by aircraft, which was ultimately unsuccessful. The fire burned through a wet area with a creek, and increased in intensity when it progressed back into an area of heavy spruce component. The fire gained approximately 500 acres.
A TFR has been placed over the fire area.

Fire map

Crow Village fire update

Various reports have called this the "Crow Village" fire, however the Fire Service has tagged it the "Winter Trail" fire. At this time, Crow Village itself is not in danger, and the fire is being actively fought with 55 personnel and several aircraft. Here is the latest report from the fire service:

Lat: 61:35:33
Lon: 159:50:26

# 282 CALIS
Personnel: 55
The fire was reported 10 miles West of Aniak at 1550 by helicopter 500EH while flying near Aniak staging. The fire was in Full protection and activity was reported as running, group torching, and short range spotting in tundra, black spruce, and mixed hardwoods. The fire was on the North side of the Kuskokwim River, moving in a NW direction away from the river, fueled by high SE winds gusting to 24mph, which hampered control efforts. Resources mobilized included; Tankers 52, 55, and 267, Helicopters 230, 675, and 500EH, Jump 12 and 17, Air attack 909AK and lead A1. Pioneer Peak IHC and Chena IHC were moved to the fire from fire 255. Fire personnel are working to secure an anchor point and assessing property and values in the area. Actions planned for 6/18 will be to work the flank and secure the perimeter with assistance from air support. Crews are making good progress around the flanks at the time of this report. Fire was started from an escaped cooking fire.