Shaw and Pogo fires hold at 1,562 acres near Pogo Mine Road in monitor status

Two uncontained wildfires totaling more than 1,500 acres sit on either side of Mile 27 on Pogo Mine Road, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Thursday in its Delta Area fires update.

The Shaw Fire has been revised to 1,166 acres after updated aerial mapping, up from the 70 acres the agency recorded on June 21. The Pogo Fire stands at 396 acres. Both remain in monitor status, meaning managers are watching conditions rather than actively working to reduce acreage.

Fire managers flagged a specific concern in their June 25 update: "While fire behavior has moderated in areas of hardwoods, black spruce remains on the landscape and could support additional fire spread if weather conditions become more favorable."

The Pogo Mine Road corridor northeast of Delta Junction is the primary access route to the Pogo gold mine. The national Incident Management Situation Report dated June 25 describes the Pogo incident as having "minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping" but lists structures and railroad infrastructure as threatened and notes area closures are in effect.

The fires are part of a broader surge of wildfire activity across Interior Alaska driven by lightning. More than 5,400 lightning strikes were recorded across Alaska in a single night around the summer solstice, contributing to multiple new fires in the region. The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection suspended burn permits in the Tok and Delta Fire Prevention Areas on June 4 in response to dry conditions and warm temperatures. Under that suspension, residents are prohibited from burning debris piles, lawns, or using burn barrels. Cooking and warming fires remain allowed with caution. The suspension stays in effect until conditions improve.

No evacuation orders or road closures appear in agency documents as of the June 25 update. The Division of Forestry and Fire Protection said managers continue to evaluate weather conditions and fire activity.