Anderson residents ordered to evacuate as Star Fire hits 100 acres

All residents of Anderson were ordered to leave Saturday evening as the Star Fire burned 100 acres of black spruce and hardwoods south of the city's shooting range, with two additional fires igniting north of town the same night.

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection announced the mandatory "GO!" evacuation order at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, directing all residents to leave immediately. Evacuees are directed to Tri-Valley School at 400 Suntrana Rd in Healy. A map of the evacuation area is posted at denaliborough.org/fire.

By 8 p.m., Air Attack was coordinating seven aircraft over the Star Fire: two water-dropping helicopters, three water-scooping aircraft, and two retardant tankers. The Pioneer Peak Hotshots and Fairbanks 1 Crew were on the ground.

Two additional fires ignited north of Anderson the same evening under dangerous fire weather conditions, with scattered thunderstorms, temperatures in the upper 80s, humidity dropping as low as 25 percent, and wind gusts near storm cells of up to 40 mph. The National Weather Service in Fairbanks has a Red Flag Warning in effect for the Central and Eastern Interior, including the Northern Denali Borough, until 10 p.m. AKDT Sunday.

The Tanana Fire, reported just after 6 p.m., is estimated at 1 acre and is burning in black spruce and tundra approximately 6 miles west of Mile 295 of the Parks Highway. The Lost Fire, estimated at 0.1 acre, is burning in spruce between Lost Slough and Clear Creek, approximately 2.5 miles north of Anderson. Water-scooping aircraft and smokejumpers are responding to the Tanana Fire, with aerial resources also tasked to the Lost Fire as availability permits. No further updates on either fire are expected overnight.