Kopshesut Fire near Ambler reaches 30% containment at 1,500 acres

The Kopshesut Fire burning about a mile west of Ambler reached 30 percent containment Monday as nearly 70 firefighters worked on containment and structure protection near the Northwest Alaska community, according to a social media update. The 1,500-acre blaze had reached about 20 percent containment on the eastern side as of June 6, when Alaska Fire Service reported steady progress as crews strengthened firelines.

The fire started June 4 at the Ambler village landfill and reached nearly 1,500 acres by June 6. It spread through black spruce, mixed hardwoods, and tundra with tall grass. Early winds pushed the fire southeast toward the Kobuk River instead of directly into town. Water-dropping aircraft, including scoopers and other tankers, were used to strengthen firelines and support ground crews near Ambler. Crews including smokejumpers, the Midnight Sun Hotshots, and the North Star crew are working containment lines.

The fire has held at roughly 1,500 acres since Saturday, burning primarily in a creeping and smoldering pattern typical of early-season conditions when tundra and forest fuels remain moist. No injuries have been reported and no evacuations have been ordered.