Funny River Wildfire

IN ARIZONA THERE ARE 840 FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO CONTAIN A 7,5OO ACRE BLAZE.

IN ALASKA THERE ARE 374 FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO CONTAIN A 67,000 ACRE (MORE THAN 100 SQUARE MILES) INFERNO.

The fire is being fought with 374 people. Firefighters are continuing to extend a containment line on the fire's west side as a fire break for homes near the community of Kasilof (kah-SEE'-lawf). Fire officials say fire activity is expected to pick up Friday afternoon with predicted southwest winds of 6 to 12 mph gusting to 20 mph

Update to this post.



Town meetings were held last night for residents of Soldotna and Kasilof. Explaining the progress of the fire and the fight against it. What to take/how to prepare for evacuation if necessary.

Angry residents wanted to know why this fire wasn't attacked when it was much smaller, between 10-80 acres.

Overnight the fire grew from 44,000 acres yesterday to 67,000+ acres today. They are reporting 15% containment thanks largely (but not solely) to CANADIAN Water Bombers dipping water from Tustemena Lake and dumping it on the fire.




This map shows the size of the fire. Keep in mind that from the top near Funny River Subdivision to the top of the lake is a distance of about 10 miles.



Smoke from the fire. Note the pyrocumulus clouds being generated by the fire. Hot air rushing way up into the atmosphere. These are the clouds that can spawn the super cells and tornados.



Smoke from the much reported Arizona fire vs. the not reported Alaska fire.



From my daughter's home in Kasilof.



Some residents maintaining they will not leave if ordered. If they lose what they have there they lose everything.

So again keep them all in mind.

As well as the crews you are not hearing about putting everything on the line to keep those residents safe.



h/t to Rev. Paul at Way Up North and KTUU (among others) for photos and info.