Crews dig out buried hotspot near Tok home as Mukluk Fire hits 70% containment

Weeks after the Mukluk Fire swept through the neighborhoods west of Tok, part of it was still burning underground.

Crews dug a smoldering log out of a berm near a home on Midnight Sun Drive on Friday, after someone saw smoke rising from a pile of soil, logs and vegetation. To reach the heat, they cut the logs apart, doused them, and excavated a hole roughly 10 feet wide, 30 long and 4 deep. Fire managers say more buried heat is likely: rain and cooler weather cool the surface but don't always reach fire tucked inside logs, roots and berms.

The fire is now 70 percent contained at about 7,300 acres, with 31 people still assigned, down from more than 360 in late August. It destroyed 50 homes and 108 outbuildings after starting Aug. 17.

Crews are asking hunters and residents to stay outside the fire's perimeter, especially near its uncontained northern edge. Wind and rain have further weakened burned trees, many with no roots left to hold them, and ash pits and unstable ground remain. Anyone who sees fire or smoke should call 911.