wildfire

The Alaska Division of Forestry says the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but has ruled out lightning, suggesting the blaze was human-caused.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Tuesday “intensive mop-up operations” on the so-called Grandview Fire have concluded and there’s no further threat of spread.

The so-called Grandview Fire broke out last week and grew from eight to almost 90 acres in one night. The state later determined the blaze was caused by an escaped campfire.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection says the so-called Grandview Fire was sparked by an escaped campfire and slowed when it hit a stand of hardwood.

The state initially did not know what started the fire. But Alaska Division of Forestry spokesperson Emery Johnson said the state later determined it was caused by an escaped campfire.

The Alaska Division of Forestry first reported the so-called Bruces Fire on July 4 around 4 p.m.

A group of Soldotna Girl Scouts have designed and manufactured a product that can help prevent human-caused wildfires. The innovation won first prize at the annual Caring for the Kenai competition, an environmental awareness contest for high school students across the Kenai Peninsula.

Micah Hahn, who's leading the study, said a big part of the project is to develop online tools so Alaskans have the information they need to access federal funding.

Continued hot, dry conditions across much of Alaska drove the state to issue a burn closure for many types of fires.

There are no large wildfires in the Kenai area. But smoke from the Interior is blowing down, prompting a “moderate” air quality warning for Southcentral Alaska.