Nutmeg Fire moderates near Wiseman as rain forecast moves in

The Nutmeg Fire moderated Sunday despite 20 mph overnight winds, with natural terrain widening the buffer between the 127-acre blaze and the small community of Wiseman in the Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. The fire is burning about 5.5 miles northwest of Wiseman, south of Wiseman Creek and Nolan Road. Terrain-driven easterly winds are continuing to push smoke away from town.

Smokejumpers monitored the fire overnight because of the gusty conditions. Late Saturday the fire burned into vegetation near a marshy area south of Wiseman Creek, consuming fuel that now forms a broader natural barrier between the fire and town. The fire is moving slowly northward toward the creek, which sits between its leading edge and Wiseman.

Limited Management Zone

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service said the fire is burning in a Limited Management Option zone. "Fires in these areas are generally monitored unless conditions change and they threaten communities or other sites identified at risk," the agency said in its July 11 update. "If that occurs, firefighters focus on protecting the specific sites rather than suppressing the main fire." Sites managers are tracking include Wiseman, a nearby mining operation, cabins, and archaeological sites. "Because of its proximity to Wiseman and other nearby sites, two smokejumpers are assigned to monitor the fire and provide managers real-time updates to conditions," the agency said.

What the Forecast Offers

A 50-80% chance of precipitation is expected over coming days, with temperatures in the 50s and 60s and light winds out of the south. The fire has received almost no rain so far. Fire managers said terrain between the fire and Wiseman, combined with the wetter weather expected to move in, could help restrict fire growth.