Smokejumpers stop half-acre fire across Yukon River from Circle

Six smokejumpers stopped a half-acre wildfire burning across the Yukon River from Circle on June 12, deploying hose lines and coordinating water drops with two water-scooping airplanes to halt the fire's spread. Fire managers responded aggressively because the Jefferson Fire was burning in a modified management area near a full-protection zone by the community.

U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel spotted the Jefferson Fire shortly after noon from a helicopter en route to service a remote weather station in northeastern Alaska. The fire was smoldering in spruce and hardwoods, creeping with moderate spread driven by wind and nearby thunderstorms.

Fire managers attributed the ignition to lightning that moved through the area. In Alaska, areas designated under full or modified management options generally receive aggressive initial attack near communities or infrastructure, even when specific structures are not immediately at risk.

The water-scooping airplanes were later released to return to Fairbanks. Smokejumpers will continue working the fire until it is fully suppressed.