Alaska and Canadian crews fight 20- to 30-acre fire near Alcan border

Firefighters from Alaska and Canada are working opposite sides of the international border on a 20- to 30-acre wildfire about 3 miles south of the Alcan Highway.

The Little John Fire, No. 448, drew its first response on the evening of Aug. 1, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. It is burning in spruce, tussock and tundra. Denser, taller timber stands along the eastern edge near a lake.

The division completed the initial bucket drops. Canadian bucket operations then joined on the Canadian side. U.S. firefighters are securing the northern flank. Canadian crews are establishing a helispot on the southeast end, with hose line laid along the southern boundary and extended north between the eastern flank and the lake.

Full-day suppression operations were set to resume in the morning, supported by the weather forecast, with crews continuing to secure lines the following day. Operations then shift to full-day mop-up and gridding through Tuesday to find hidden heat.

There are no evacuations and no impacts to the Alcan Highway.

A Border Area That Has Burned Before

Alaska fire managers reported a half-acre lightning-caused fire near the Alcan Border Patrol station on Aug. 31, 2025. A helicopter with a bucket extinguished it.

In dense spruce along the corridor, fire potential holds until season-ending rain or snow.