Starry Fire forces Anderson evacuations; 75 personnel battle 688-acre blaze

Anderson residents remain under evacuation order as the Starry Fire burns 688 acres about 80 miles south of Fairbanks. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, 75 personnel were working to protect Anderson and Clear, with evacuations still in place and residents displaced.

Displaced residents can shelter at Tri-Valley School, 400 Suntrana Rd, in Healy. The Denali Borough is managing logistics and can be reached at (907) 378-7985.

How the Fire Developed

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection received the first call Saturday afternoon. Initial attack began at 6:50 p.m. Saturday, June 20, drawing responses from the Clear, Anderson, Nenana, and Tri-Valley fire departments alongside state forestry crews. Smokejumpers, helicopters, engines, tankers, and dozers were ordered and on scene. The fire originated at the end of the Anderson Shooting Range. By 7:15 p.m. it was spotting toward Anderson, prompting the evacuation order. Crews worked until 4 a.m. Sunday. The cause remains under investigation.

Four dozers completed a containment line on the fire's left flank, running from the Anderson Shooting Range to a road off Clear Space Force Station. Incident Commander Ed Sanford said five crews have been ordered on the fire. The Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew and Fairbanks One Crew cut saw line and laid hose. Smokejumpers worked the active north side of the fire late into the night before shifting to dozer support. Fairbanks Area Wildland Fire Forestry Technicians filled command roles and helped with dozer operations. The City of Anderson Fire Department and Tri-Valley Volunteer Department supplied tenders to keep water flowing.

Terrain and Tactics

Sanford called the terrain a liability. "Look at all the fire scars around here, you can tell by looking at them the wind comes through the valley from Healy and then zips and hooks with winds from thunderstorms," he said. He described the area as "Big Fire Country" and said resources must stay ready for wind switches that can shift fire behavior without warning.

The tactical objective is to hold established lines and push progress on both flanks, steering the fire west toward the river or getting around it to protect Anderson and Clear.