Twin Bear Fire threatens cabins near Chena Hot Springs Road

Several cabins sit near an active wildfire burning north of Milepost 31 on Chena Hot Springs Road outside Fairbanks, and drivers on the road are being warned to watch for firefighting equipment. The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection published an update Sunday on the Twin Bear Fire as firefighting resources continued working the incident.

Recreational floaters on the Chena River spotted smoke and fire on the north bank Friday afternoon and reported a lightning-caused fire to authorities. Fairbanks Forestry Area Helitack responded, deployed its firefighters, and started bucket operations after locating the fire north of the road along Colorado Creek. Initial size-up put the fire at 2 acres with a 90% active perimeter.

"Several cabins are in the area of the fire," the division said in its Sunday update. "Drivers on Chena Hot Springs Road need to watch out for firefighting equipment responding to the incident."

Twenty-three firefighters are now assigned to the fire, designated incident No. 253. Eight smokejumpers parachuted to the site. Eight U.S. Forest Service Tongass Small Module personnel arrived Sunday afternoon. Helitack bucket operations are ongoing to cool hot spots along the fire's edge. The fire is burning in black spruce terrain. The division noted the report will be updated as more information becomes available.

Fire Corridor History

The Chena Hot Springs Road corridor has a documented history of wildfire. The Munson Creek Fire burned near Chena Hot Springs in July 2021, producing a significant smoke column visible from the resort. The Middle Fork Fire forced closure of the North Fork Cabin and Red Squirrel Campground along the same corridor in 2022, illustrating the recurring wildfire risk along this recreation corridor in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.