Outflow winds threaten Siruk Fire near Allakaket; Ruby-area fires face worsening weather

Firefighters managing three wildfires near Ruby and Allakaket are bracing for a challenging holiday weekend as forecasters warn of outflow winds reaching 30 to 40 mph and humidity falling to critical levels across the western Interior.

For the Siruk Fire northwest of Allakaket, the U.S. Wildland Fire Service said the primary concern is that outflow winds from passing thunderstorms could push the fire beyond the control lines smokejumpers worked to establish. For the Big and Cecil fires near Ruby, fire managers warn that if thunderstorms develop but miss the fire areas, temperatures will climb into the 70s and minimum relative humidity will drop to 25 to 30 percent, a combination that can drive rapid fire spread. The storms could also bring heavy rain, but fire managers say they cannot count on that outcome. Winds are forecast to be northerly through Friday, becoming southwesterly overnight into Saturday.

Big Fire and Cecil Fire

The Big Fire, burning 11 miles east of Ruby, remains only 10 percent contained at 257 acres. Forty-nine firefighters are assigned to it, working to find and extinguish hotspots along the perimeter. Twelve smokejumpers were released from the incident Thursday to prepare for initial attack on any new fires that might start during the current warming, drying trend in the weather.

The Cecil Fire, burning about a half mile from the Big Fire, has reached 70 percent containment across 724 acres, with 67 firefighters assigned. Both fires were detected June 26 and are not currently threatening Ruby or nearby Native allotments, the agency said. Ruby residents should stay alert to changing air quality conditions. Smoke has not significantly impacted the community so far, but the agency directed residents to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation air quality page at dec.alaska.gov for updates.

Siruk Fire

Northwest of Allakaket, the Siruk Fire sits at 30 percent containment and 550 acres after smokejumpers spent Thursday building control lines along the east and north flanks. The lightning-sparked fire was detected late on June 30 and smokejumpers were sent in early the next day, supported by water-scooping planes during initial attack. The fire burns on the Alatna River about 23 miles from the village. Two Native allotments sit within one to four miles of the fire. Neither is currently threatened. The agency said outflow winds from passing thunderstorms could push the fire beyond the control lines smokejumpers worked to establish.

Broader Context

The three fires are part of a broader 2026 Interior fire season that has kept resources stretched. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service, established by the Department of the Interior in January 2026 to unify federal wildland fire management, has issued updates on all three fires. Updates on the Big and Cecil fires are scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The Siruk Fire is being updated as conditions warrant.