Significant rain has fallen on the Swan Lake Fire, giving firefighters a chance to continue to mop up the fire lines. Meanwhile, another community meeting is scheduled for tonight.
Matt DeLaney, a heavy equipment supervisor, said in a video update that the clean-up operations are done for a number of reasons.
"So we push the dozer line here earlier in the fire to protect the power line and the highway. And we're pulling the organic material over to reduce erosion effects and hopefully keep in basically (inaudible)," DeLaney said. "Usually we do this work When operations deems it's appropriate. So typically we start on slower divisions that are, you know, relatively quiet if not out."
Luke Heppner of Kenai is with the Yukon Fire Crew, and has been helping chip downed trees.
"It really helps with the recovery process it, shortens that a lot, decomposes, so it will be almost back like we were never here before we know it," said Heppner. "I'm so happy to be here supporting our own region. It's always nice to be in our back door and helping the communities that we live with."
The Swan Lake Fire, which began by lightning strike on June 5, was at 102,229 acres yesterday, with 306 personnel assigned to it. Because of the recent rain, which dropped an estimated quarter- to half-inch of much needed precipitation, the fire's spread is expected to be minimal today.
The Eastern Area Incident Management Team will hold a community meeting tonight at 6 in the Cooper Landing School on Bean Creek Road. It will also be streamed on the team's Facebook page.
