PHOTO: The McDonald Fire (#119) burning 31 miles south of Fairbanks was active Sunday, growing to an estimated 8,000 acres thanks to hot, dry and windy conditions. While the winds diminished since Saturday, the warmer temperatures helped push the fire out from both flanks as it burned through stringers of black spruce. The fire has had little eastward progression and remains 7 miles west of Harding Lake and the Tanana River.
The McDonald Fire (#119) is burning in a remote part of a military training area in the Tanana Flats. It was estimated at 8,000 acres on Sunday. Photo by BLM AFS
The lightning-caused fire is burning in an area with a mixture of black spruce and hardwood trees.
Saturday’s 20 mph winds pushed the lightning-caused fire west and deeper in the Tanana Flats military training area.