The fast moving Caribou Lake Fire, located about 25 miles northeast of Homer in the Fox Creek Drainage, grew from approximately 50 acres to approximately 150 acres in an hour last night.
A load of smokejumpers have been deployed to work on protecting the nearly 30 structures that are threatened by the fire.
Tactical firefighting aircraft – including Fire Bosses, two heavy airtankers, and the local Alaska Division of Forestry helicopter – are currently assisting firefighters on the ground with both water and retardant drops.
The fire is 100 percent active, burning in black spruce, and backing east due to winds from the west.
Because of aircraft working in the area, civilians are asked to stay out of the area for their own safety. Being in the area, even on the ground, can impede fire operations
Meanwhile, residents along North Fork Road and Diamond Ridge have been placed on Ready Evacuation notice due to the fire's movement.
The 15-person Type 2 Initial Attack Yukon Crew has been on the fire since Sunday. Two water-bombers and two Division of Forestry helicopters are helping with suppression efforts. There are about two dozen on the scene.
Fire managers are concerned that if the fire continues to move south, it will reach an area with continuous spruce trees that are very receptive to burning, especially after the continued hot and dry conditions experienced in the area this summer.
