An escaped campfire grew to 89 acres near Sterling — cutting power and closing a road

A campfire someone didn't fully extinguish near Swanson River Road grew to 89 acres in two days. Before fire activity dropped to minimal Wednesday, it closed the road, prompted Homer Electric Association to temporarily cut power on a nearby transmission line so water-dropping aircraft could fly safely, and pulled in two specialized fire crews plus air tankers, helicopters, dozers, and an excavator.

The Grandview Fire (#204) was first reported June 17 at 5 to 10 acres burning in grass, brush, and black spruce. By 9 p.m. it was 50 acres. By 11 p.m. crews had a dozer line on the southern flank and retardant laid along the north. Wednesday's remapping put the perimeter at 89 acres. The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection confirmed the cause: an escaped campfire.

The response was substantial: the Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, the Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew, three DFFP engines, two dozers, an excavator, a Soldotna-based DFFP helicopter, retardant air tankers, single-engine scoopers, and water tenders from Central Emergency Services and Nikiski Fire Department. An infrared drone was set to fly the perimeter Wednesday to detect remaining heat.

To let scoopers drop water close to nearby power lines, HEA briefly de-energized the transmission line. Power was restored shortly after midnight; the fire didn't directly hit the lines. Alaska State Troopers closed Swanson River Road to non-local traffic at Jacobsen Avenue while crews worked; it reopened in both directions Wednesday. No evacuations were ordered. A Temporary Flight Restriction was set over the area, and officials reminded the public that flying drones near a wildfire is illegal because it grounds firefighting aircraft.

Escaped campfires are among the most common human causes of Alaska wildfires. State law requires burn permits for open burning between April 1 and August 31, though campfires under 3 feet in diameter are exempt — but not from the requirement that they actually be extinguished.