Bean Fire burns 80 acres near Native allotments west of Manley Hot Springs

A new wildfire ignited Sunday about 20 miles west of Manley Hot Springs, burning through brush and tussocks near Patterson Creek and placing several Native allotments and cabins within five miles of its perimeter.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection identified the fire as the Bean Fire and estimated it at 80 acres as of Sunday. "The Bean Fire (#362) was initially estimated at 80 acres and was burning at a moderate rate of spread, with fire running and torching through brush and tussocks," Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen said in the agency's incident update.

Smokejumpers reached the ground and found water-scooping aircraft effective at stopping most of the fire's forward movement. The initial response included three small-engine and two large-engine scoopers working opposite flanks. After landing, smokejumpers called for four more single-engine scoopers, bringing the total aerial fleet to seven aircraft. Ground crews are cutting brush along the fire's edge and installing hose lines to cool the perimeter.

"Several Native allotments and cabins lie roughly 5 miles south of the fire perimeter; officials say they are not immediately threatened but are being monitored," Ipsen said. The fire sits five miles north of the Tanana River and Cosna Slough. The area last burned in 2015, meaning roughly 11 years of fuel has accumulated in the brush and tussock terrain.

Context and Community Risk

The Bean Ridge Corporation holds title to approximately 69,200 acres around Manley Hot Springs. The 2023 Manley Hot Springs Village Community Plan identified wildfire as a key hazard for the community, citing surrounding forested lands and the community's reliance on a single road for access.

This is not the first time fire has pressed close to this corridor. In July 2022, the Bean Complex, seven fires totaling more than 197,000 acres, prompted evacuation recommendations near Manley Hot Springs before reaching 90 percent completion by month's end.

Manley Hot Springs sits roughly 160 road miles northwest of Fairbanks at the end of the Manley Hot Springs Road. As of Sunday, firefighters were continuing to monitor the fire and work the perimeter.