The Starry Fire is 70% contained as crews move into mop-up

Crews have the Starry Fire 70% contained as of Monday, up from 65% late last week, and have shifted into mop-up on the 547-acre blaze burning about a mile south of Anderson in the Denali Borough.

With the perimeter largely held, the work now is making sure nothing reignites. Firefighters are combing the full edge of the fire at least 300 feet inward over the next several days, checking for any lingering heat — a big step deeper than the 50-foot buffer they'd secured by late last week. The eastern flank is the slow going, where fallen, tangled timber makes for hard walking.

Monday brought breezy southwest winds, a chance of light showers, and temperatures in the low 60s. The fire, which started June 21, stands at 547 acres. Fire managers say they'll now post updates every other day.