The largest fire on the Kenai only saw an increase of about 200 acres overnight thanks to the cooler and wetter weather across Southcentral. The fire started from a lightning strike on June 5 is now approaching 13,000 acres, the Alaska Division of Forestry said Sunday.
Crews are making progress along the southwest edge of the fire near the Sterling community. Officials say this is being done through improving the fireline and enhancing protections around energy infrastructure, of which a thermoelectric generator just east of the fire is a huge concern.
Even with the cooler and wetter weather in place, crews cleared out vegetation and began prepping water pumps and a sprinkler system near the generator, should the fire spread eastward, the Division of Forestry said.
Fire officials said the fire, which started naturally, could restart a fire in an area that hasn't seen activity in nearly 75 years.