The Swan Lake Fire, which erupted with activity Saturday night, crossed the Sterling Highway and reached Skilak Lake by Sunday evening. The fire crossed the Upper Kenai River near the Kenai River Trail.
The Sterling Highway closed from mile 53 to 75 midday Sunday, but reopened to two-way traffic at noon today. Traffic heading south on the Sterling Highway Sunday was backed up a reported 15 miles yesterday.
Also closed is the Upper Kenai River between Skilak and Kenai lakes.
Residents of Cooper Landing are on 24 hour notice to evacuate and advised to be ready if the need arises.
“We've gone from what was a pretty benign, seemingly benign fire about a week ago to fairly extreme fire behavior and a very complex incident that we have right now,” said Incident Commander Brentwood Reid, speaking during a Facebook Live presentation Sunday night. “The fire spread, again with these changes more of a west wind, through the drainage here and began to push towards Cooper landing. The fire up here also began to push through these drainage is an out into the forest here where it is threatening the Resurrection Trail and the public use cabins along the Resurrection Trail.”
North winds driving the Swan Lake Fire up several creek drainages are expected to become light this afternoon before swinging around to the southwest.
Five Type 1 Hotshot crews are on their way, as well as a Type 1 Incident Command team. Reid said multiple heavy water bombers and helicopters have also been ordered. In an announcement this morning, Reid said the calmer winds will allow aerial attack in earnest today.
The fire prompted the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Chugach National Forest to close trails, campgrounds, fishing spots and public use cabins. They include the popular Russian River Ferry, Skyline Trail and the K’Beq (k’BEK) historical site.
The weather caught the Swan Lake Incident Command with less than 20 personnel staffed to the fire. At its peak, over 500 firefighters battled the blaze. There are currently 50 firefighters on the blaze, with more due today and tomorrow.
Borough OEM Director Dan Nelson said residents of Cooper Landing have been put on 24-hours notice of the possibility of evacuation. He described the borough's "Ready-Set-Go" program.
“When we talk about Ready, Set, Go, those are three management action points or trigger points that tell us when we can take certain actions when the public needs to be informed when we need to go and go forth and do some of those things,” Nelson said. “Ready, typically talks about, you know, that getting ready point, we're going to be prepared to take action, we're going to get ready to evacuate our homes if needed. So those preparation actions that that take place, ready typically comes about 24 hours before we might expect an action.
“And when we talk about getting set, be ready to evacuate your home at a moment's notice. That might be where you're going to have to make sure you have the things you need, which might potentially be a go kit. It might be things like clothing or pet supplies, making accommodations for them having medications for you and your family, taking care of maybe any family members that that may need extra attention, the little ones or perhaps elderly family members as well. Go, is go. About six hours before we expect a potential impact, that’s when you need to leave your home immediately.”
