The Grandview Fire has closed Swanson River Road and burned 30 acres near Sterling

A wildland fire near Jacobsen Avenue East has closed Swanson River Road in both directions and burned approximately 30 acres of black spruce and mixed hardwoods, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection said. The fire, designated Incident #204 and known as the Grandview Fire, has produced smoke and reduced visibility for nearby Sterling residents and drivers on the Sterling Highway, depending on wind direction. As of 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, no evacuations had been ordered.

Swanson River Road runs north from Sterling into the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, providing primary summer access to the Swanson River Canoe Route's 40-plus lake system and the surrounding refuge backcountry. The closure pulls a major Kenai Peninsula recreation route offline at peak season for anglers, paddlers, and refuge visitors. Officials asked residents to stay clear of the area to keep roads open for firefighting traffic.

The division deployed air tankers and a helicopter making water and retardant drops to slow the fire's advance while ground crews and engines worked to protect nearby structures and establish containment lines. The agency said warm, dry conditions and recent lightning have increased fire danger across the Kenai Peninsula and urged the public to follow any burn suspensions or restrictions in effect.

Sterling has carried significant fire activity before. The lightning-caused Swan Lake Fire grew to more than 162,000 acres and spread south across the Sterling Highway, with heavy fog and smoke causing closures along the corridor. Refuge scientists later noted that the fire stopped in at least one area when it reached a forest of Alaska birch, illustrating how vegetation types can influence fire spread near the community — context that matters for the Grandview Fire's spread potential through the black spruce and mixed hardwoods around Jacobsen Avenue East.

Wildland fire information for Alaska is published by the BLM Alaska Fire Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry through AK Fire Info, where the Grandview Fire incident updates appear. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes refuge alerts and closures, including any temporary access restrictions to the Kenai Refuge backcountry beyond the road closure itself.