Cecil Fire fully contained near Ruby; Big Fire at 70% with storms approaching

The Cecil Fire east of Ruby is fully contained after a drone flight confirmed no remaining heat Monday, while crews continue work on the nearby Big Fire as thunderstorms approach the area.

The Cecil Fire burned 724 acres before reaching 100% containment. A UAS drone flight Monday detected no remaining heat. The Midnight Sun Interagency Fire Crew and the Woodhawk Wildland Fire Module are demobilizing, with personnel and equipment heading back to Fort Wainwright. Eighteen personnel remain assigned to the fire.

The Big Fire is approximately 258 acres and 70% contained, with 61 personnel still on the ground. Crews have secured the left flank and are working to gain depth on the right. The 21-person Gannet Glacier crew from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection and the 11-person Kansas State Suppression Module are continuing direct line containment work. Ten smokejumpers are scheduled to leave Tuesday.

The two incidents were managed together in Ruby by a Type 3 incident management team. Overhead and support personnel with the Type 3 team will remain in Ruby to continue supporting operations on the Big Fire until it is fully contained. Neither fire threatens the community of Ruby or nearby Native allotments. Both were lightning-caused and detected June 26, roughly 11 miles east of town and about half a mile apart.

Weather Is the Remaining Variable

Forecasters expect scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, with strong storms developing over higher terrain north and south of the fire area. Those storms could produce outflow gust fronts up to 40 mph. A storm passing directly over the fire could also bring up to half an inch of rain. Temperatures are expected to reach near 80 degrees today and again Tuesday before cooling slightly Wednesday.

One note for residents tracking the fires through third-party platforms: Watch Duty, which draws on national fire data, lists the Cecil Fire at 0% containment, in contrast to the 100% containment reported in the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection's official update, which is backed by Monday's drone flight.

Earlier Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection updates tracked the Cecil Fire from 40% containment on July 1 to 70% on July 3, while the Big Fire sat at 10% containment as recently as Thursday.

Public Affairs Specialist Beth Ipsen is handling information for both incidents and can be reached at [email protected] or (907) 356-5510.