This story was updated at 7:30 p.m.
Multiple agencies are responding to a 30-acre wildfire near the intersection of Swanson River Road and Jacobsen Avenue in Sterling. Alaska Wildland Fire Information reports the fire is about 10 miles east of Soldotna and burning in grass, brush and black spruce trees.
Shortly after the fire was discovered, the Alaska Division of Forestry said the blaze threatened vehicles and powerlines.
At 6:45 p.m., Homer Electric Association cut power for around 3,400 members. The cooperative said emergency services requested power lines be de-energized while crews responded to the fire. The utility’s outage map shows a broad outage on both sides of the Sterling Highway, from around Longmere Lake to almost the west entrance to Skilak Lake Road. The utility said power will be restored as soon as safely possible.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information reported an air tanker had dropped one load of water and was returning to Palmer to reload. Crews are also creating firebreaks.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Office of Emergency Management says Central Emergency Services and the State Division of Forestry and Fire Protection are responding. Two Palmer crews, Gannet Glacier initial attack fire crew and Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew, are traveling to help fight the fire. More resources have been ordered from Fairbanks.
Paul McBride is the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s acting emergency manager. At around 7:30 p.m., he said the state forestry division was not advising evacuations in response to the fire. McBride also said responding agencies have not requested additional firefighting support, but the borough is collaborating with the forestry division’s public information office.
The Division of Forestry describes the current level of fire danger as “very high.” Burn permits are currently required on the Kenai Peninsula.
Up-to-date information about wildland fires around the state is available on the Alaska Wildland Fire website.
KDLL’s Ashlyn O’Hara contributed reporting.
