The long, hot, dry days of summer in Fairbanks also bring the risk of wildfires to the interior. There are multiple small lightening caused fires burning near Fairbanks. Public Information Officer for the Alaska Division of Forestry, Tim Mowry said that with all the fires their resources are being stretched thin. Because of this multiple hotshot crews from the lower 48 have been flown up to Alaska to assist with firefighting efforts across the state. Fire officials have also brought in fire crews from Alaska Villages.
There are currently two staffed fires burning near Fairbanks and one fire that they are watching.
The Caribou Creek fire is burning about seven and a half miles off of 18 mile Chena Hot Springs Road. There are currently 145 personal on the fire but by tomorrow there are expected to be close to 200 people working the fire. Mowry said the fire is burning deep in the roots which causes trees to fall over and then “become ground fuel and they will hold heat for a long, long time and just smolder, so that really makes things difficult for these guys