30-acre Grandview Fire burns near Sterling homes

Residents near Swanson River Road and Jacobsen Avenue East in Sterling faced smoke and reduced road visibility Wednesday as a wildfire burned approximately 30 acres in black spruce and mixed hardwoods, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection said. Nearby homeowners and drivers on local roads and the Sterling Highway are the most directly affected, with smoke reducing visibility depending on wind direction.

As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, crews had not ordered evacuations. Officials asked residents to stay clear of the area to keep roads open for firefighting traffic. The fire was assigned Incident Number 204 and classified as a new wildfire in the official agency update.

The division deployed air tankers and a helicopter making water and retardant drops to slow the fire's advance. Ground crews and engines worked to protect nearby structures and establish containment lines.

The agency said warm, dry conditions and recent lightning have increased fire danger on the Kenai Peninsula and urged the public to follow any burn suspensions or restrictions in effect.

Context: Sterling's Fire History

Sterling has seen significant wildfire activity before. The Swan Lake Fire, a lightning-caused blaze on the Kenai Peninsula, grew to more than 162,000 acres and spread south across the Sterling Highway. During that fire, Alaska Wildland Fire Information reported that heavy fog and smoke caused temporary closures and delays on the Sterling Highway and urged motorists to drive cautiously. Refuge scientists later noted the fire stopped in at least one area when it reached a forest of Alaska birch, illustrating how vegetation types can influence fire spread near the community.

Updates

The division updates the Grandview Fire incident at akfireinfo.com. Residents should monitor that site for changes to evacuation status, road conditions, and resource assignments.