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 (#234) 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. Forestry and local fire departments are responding to the blaze. 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 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. The Division of Forestry reported the fire "actively burning in black spruce and hardwoods."

New Ignitions North of Anderson

Two additional fires ignited north of Anderson on Saturday evening. The Tanana Fire (#232), 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, near the area of the 2023 Shores Landing Fire. The Lost Fire (#236), 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. Aerial resources there are also tasked with the Lost Fire as availability permits. Suppression actions are underway on both fires, with no further updates expected overnight.

Red Flag Warning in Effect Through Sunday

Conditions across the Interior are adding to fire risk. 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 warning cites scattered thunderstorms, temperatures reaching the upper 80s, humidity dropping as low as 25 percent, and wind gusts near storm cells of up to 40 mph. A separate NWS special weather statement advised residents in the Central and Eastern Interior to limit strenuous outdoor activity during afternoon hours given the heat.