Yenlo Fire near Skwentna grows to 52 acres, threatens cabin

A wildfire 14 miles north of Skwentna grew to 52 acres Wednesday after helitack crews defended a cabin and heavy equipment in its path, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection reported.

The Yenlo Fire was reported Tuesday evening by a passing pilot who located the blaze approximately 41 miles southwest of Talkeetna and 2 miles west of Mount Yenlo. A DFFP helicopter dispatched to investigate found an estimated 20-acre wildland fire actively burning in grass, brush, and scattered spruce with individual trees torching. A cabin and heavy equipment were directly in the fire's path.

Aerial resources including two water scoopers, a retardant tanker, and an air-attack coordination plane slowed the fire's spread enough for Pioneer Peak Hotshots and Alaska Smokejumpers to establish ground operations Tuesday evening. The crews worked until midnight cutting sawline, setting pumps, and building hose lays in the remote location. The 34 firefighters spent the night camped a safe distance from the fire.

By Wednesday morning, firefighters had completed sawline around 25 percent of the fire's perimeter and were continuing to cut line and assemble hose lays. A helicopter shuttled additional equipment from Talkeetna and supported crews with bucket drops.

The division said unstable weather is forecast to move into the western Susitna Valley through the end of the week, bringing afternoon showers and isolated wet thunderstorms. High temperatures are expected in the upper 60s with lows in the lower 40s.