Governor Murkowski Will Go To Fairbanks To Review Fire Situation
Anchorage, AK - Governor Frank H. Murkowski traveled to Fairbanks to meet with top state officials and local leaders regarding the wildland fire situation that is threatening numerous areas of the Interior. There are currently 60 fires burning and 711 firefighters committed to fighting the fires. Evacuations are occurring as needed north of Chatanika and near Chena Hot Springs.
"I want Alaskans to know that we are aggressively fighting these fires. Good teamwork is taking place between state, federal, and local agencies," Murkowski said. "I want to see the situation for myself, and meet with local government leaders to make sure that the state is doing everything possible to assist Fairbanks and the Interior."
A Type I Management Team has been ordered to take over the Boundary Fire near Chatanika as the potential increases for it to burn into subdivisions along the Steese Highway. The Type I team is the elite national firefighting management team used for urban interface and wildland fires.
Major fires being managed by Type II Teams are Solstice Complex near Venetie (12 fires), the Taylor Highway Complex near Tok (7 fires), and the Boundary fire north of Fairbanks near Chatanika. There is a fire use team on the Eagle Complex at Eagle (11 fires). The Wolf Fire is now impacting Circle Hot Springs with firefighters committed. Continued red flag warning conditions with high winds have resulted in rapid expansion
of several fires.The state has taken numerous other actions over the past days in response to the threat to public health posed by the smoke generated by the fire. The Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality alert, classifying the smoke in and around Fairbanks, Venetie, and Ft. Yukon as "very unhealthy to hazardous." Airborne levels of particulate matter exceeded the federal air quality standard of 65 micrograms per cubic meter by a factor of nine over the past 24 hours. Measurements averaged 550, and have ranged from 600 to 1000 over the past few days, depending on wind direction and other factors.
Based on the DEC air quality alert, the Department of Health and Social Services has issued a public health alert, aimed at protecting the health of sensitive populations that could be impacted by the smoke levels. These include persons with asthma and other respiratory diseases, those with cardiovascular disease, the elderly, children, and smokers. DHSS recommends taking steps to reduce exposure to smoke by staying indoors whenever possible, using air conditioners if available, rather than opening windows for ventilation, reducing physical activity, and minimizing other sources of air pollution, such as burning candles, woodstoves, and vacuuming.
In light of the air quality alert, the state Department of Administration has adopted similar recommendations for state employees whose health may be effected by the smoke. State employees whose duties are essential to the health and safety of the public and cannot be interrupted for any length of time (Class 1 employees) are to report to work. All other state employees are asked to contact their supervisors for specific instructions, particularly those with respiratory illnesses or cardiopulmonary disease.