Alaska’s large wildfire continues to grow
Alaska’s large wildfire continues to grow
20 July 2009
published by www.ktuu.com
Alaska/USA — Firefighters are conducting burnout operations on a large wildfire near Nenana in hopes of removing fuels and keeping the blaze from moving closer to cabins along the Teklanika River.
Water-scooping aircraft also is being used on the Railbelt Complex fire.
The Railbelt fire was begun by lightning nearly a month ago and has grown to 210,506 acres.
It is 1 of several large wildfires burning in Alaska, where so far this year more than 400 fires have burned over 1 million acres in the state.
State officials say the Railbelt Complex fire is affecting air quality, especially north of Denali National Park where the smoke-filled air has been deemed unhealthy and even hazardous at times.
