Wildfire Management Report: Ptarmigan Complex and Surrounding Fires

Overview

Firefighters have been actively engaged in preparing containment lines and extinguishing hotspots around the Ptarmigan Complex in recent days, taking advantage of cooler and wetter weather conditions. However, a warming and drying trend is forecasted over the next five days, increasing the risk of thunderstorms with lightning and drier fuels, which may exacerbate fire activity.

Fire Incident Updates

Turtle Fire (#243)

• Eight smokejumpers are reinforcing containment lines near an Alaska Native allotment boundary close to Mile 148 on the Steese Highway.
• The Paradise Valley Type 2 hand crew and the Council of Athabaskan Tribal Governments Type 2 wildland firefighting crew continue to improve indirect lines and install pumps and hoses.
• Isolated smoke is visible from the road, with smoldering heat detected on both the north and south flanks.

Alligator Fire (#265)

• Continuous heat observed on the north flank.
• Four smokejumpers and the Alaska Range Module are constructing lines, laying hoses, and searching for hotspots on the northwest shoulder.
• The Smith River Hotshots are working on the northeastern corner, advancing westward toward the smokejumpers.
• Isolated heat detected on the east and west flanks’ heels and in spruce stringers near Albert Creek.

Birch Fire (#256)

• No visible smoke on the eastern flank as of Sunday.
• Lingering smoke remains between the fire edge and Birch Creek.
• The Black Hills Wildland Fire Module secured and mopped up the northwestern corner and is constructing indirect handlines toward Birch Creek.
• Plans to address heat on the southern edge once current work is completed.

Other Fires

• Deadwood Fire (#214) is currently in monitor status.
• Ketchem Fire (#240) and Little Mosquito Fire (#241) have been declared out.

Community Alerts and Safety Measures

1. Level 1 “Ready” Alert remains active for:
   • Community of Central
   • Steese Highway from Milepost 123 to Milepost 151
   • Circle Hot Springs Road and Circle Hot Springs
   • Deadwood Creek Road
2. Residents are advised to prepare for potential evacuation by:
   • Making plans for family members with special needs, pets, or livestock
   • Gathering essential items such as prescriptions, important documents, and valuables
   • Staying alert for updates from local authorities
3. Traffic delays expected on Steese Highway, Circle Hot Springs Road, and Deadwood Creek Road due to firefighting operations.
4. NOTAM #06/201 is in effect for Central Airport (CEM), indicating increased air traffic below 5,000 ft MSL within a 20 nautical mile radius due to firefighting aviation activities.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The wildfire management efforts align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:

• SDG 13: Climate Action – Proactive firefighting and monitoring reduce the impact of climate-related hazards and support resilience against wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Protecting forests and natural habitats through containment and suppression efforts preserves biodiversity and ecosystem health.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Community alerts and preparedness plans enhance safety and resilience of local populations against natural disasters.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Collaboration among federal agencies, tribal governments, and local firefighting crews exemplifies multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for effective wildfire management.

Additional Resources and Contact Information

• Download the full wildfire update PDF.
• Access the Ptarmigan Complex public information map here.
• For public domain imagery related to the BLM Alaska Fire Service, visit their Flickr channel.
• Learn more about the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service at http://www.blm.gov/AlaskaFireService and follow updates on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS), based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression across over 240 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation lands. AFS responsibilities include:

• Fire management policy interpretation
• Oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program
• Fuels management projects
• Operation and maintenance of advanced communication and computer systems, including the Alaska Lightning Detection System
• Maintenance of a National Incident Support Cache

AFS operates on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska, contributing to sustainable land and resource management.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article discusses wildfire management in Alaska, highlighting the impact of warming and drying weather trends, which are linked to climate change.
   • Firefighters’ efforts to control wildfires and prepare for potential thunderstorms with lightning relate to climate adaptation and mitigation.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article focuses on wildland fire suppression and management across vast forested areas, which is critical for protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
   • It mentions collaboration with Native Corporation Lands and tribal governments, emphasizing sustainable land management and biodiversity protection.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Level 1 “Ready” Alerts and evacuation preparedness for communities such as Central and Circle Hot Springs reflect efforts to build resilient communities against natural disasters.
   • Traffic management and public safety measures during firefighting operations support sustainable urban and community resilience.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article describes interagency cooperation among federal, state, tribal, and military organizations in wildfire management, illustrating partnerships to achieve common goals.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and vulnerable.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Indicators Related to SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Number of climate-related disaster events (e.g., wildfires) and their frequency/intensity as implied by the monitoring of fire activity and weather trends.
   • Capacity of firefighting and emergency response teams to manage and mitigate wildfire risks (implied by descriptions of crews, equipment, and preparedness alerts).
2. Indicators Related to SDG 15 (Life on Land)
   • Area of forest land affected by wildfires and area successfully protected or restored (implied by fire perimeter updates and fire suppression activities).
   • Extent of collaboration with indigenous and tribal land management authorities (implied by involvement of Alaska Native allotments and tribal firefighting crews).
3. Indicators Related to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
   • Number of communities under evacuation alerts or preparedness levels (e.g., Level 1 “Ready” Alert for specific communities).
   • Effectiveness of public safety measures such as traffic management and communication of alerts (implied by road delay notices and public information updates).
4. Indicators Related to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Number and diversity of agencies and organizations collaborating in wildfire management (implied by listing of federal, state, tribal, and military partners).
   • Effectiveness of interagency coordination as reflected in operational updates and joint firefighting efforts.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: akfireinfo.com