Ambler fire 30% contained as crews protect Northwest Arctic village

Firefighters Contain 30 Percent of Fire Burning West of Ambler

Firefighters have contained 30 percent of the Kopshesut Fire burning about a mile west of Ambler, where smoke from the blaze has significantly drifted into the Northwest Arctic village. Nearly 70 crew members are deployed to protect the community.

Alaska Fire Info reported that cloudy weather and isolated showers helped firefighters increase containment to 30 percent as of June 8, when the fire remained estimated at about 1,447 acres.

The fire started June 4 at the Ambler village landfill. Winds pushed the blaze southeast toward the Kobuk River rather than directly into town.

Smokejumpers, Midnight Sun Hotshots, North Star crew members, and water scoopers have dropped over 100,000 gallons on the fire. Early-season black spruce fuel conditions have prevented the fire from spreading as rapidly as it could later in the year.

Cloudy weather and isolated showers helped firefighters secure more of the fire's edge, according to the June 8 update.