Division of Forestry

A cool weekend with some scattered rain showers helped slow the progress of the Swan Lake fire. Total acreage count remained steady over the weekend at about 160,000 and more than 700 personnel remain on the fire.

The Swan Lake fire is closing in on the three month mark, and now more than 700 personnel are on the scene, working to fully extinguish it.

School was cancelled in Cooper Landing Tuesday, as the Swan Lake fire pushed farther to the east, and crossed the Resurrection Trail north of the Sterling Highway Monday night. Crews spent Monday doing back burn operations intended to keep the active fire off the highway, which had been the case Sunday night.

Emergency officials have developed a transportation plan as firefighting efforts continue to close the Sterling highway for long stretches.

Fire season is definitely here. The state Division of Forestry has put a burn ban in effect for the Kenai Peninsula, as the slow march toward green up continues.