Southeast Alaska rarely sees wildfires. But two have broken out in the Haines area in the first half of this month, with the latest reported on Wednesday morning.
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The Little Lake fire is burning on the southern end of Chilkat Lake outside of Haines. As of this afternoon, the fire was roughly a quarter-acre in size, contained and controlled.
Haines Fire Chief Zak Overmeyer said via text that the fire’s cause is not yet known and that it temporarily threatened one structure.
Chilkat Lake is only accessible by boat or plane, so responders used a state trooper boat and a private boat to reach the scene.
Responders included firefighters with the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, Klehini Valley Volunteer Fire Department and an Alaska wildlife trooper. Overmeyer said responders are currently securing the edge of the containment line and putting out hot spots using a pump from the lake.
The Little Lake fire comes less than two weeks after the Boulder Fire ignited along the Haines Highway. That fire was human caused, and was contained over the weekend.
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The area has seen a stretch of warm and dry weather in recent weeks, said National Weather Service forecaster Addie Perez.
“We’ve had a really persistent high pressure over the gulf that’s just been hanging out there,” she said. “Higher pressure is usually associated with clear, drier weather, warmer temperatures. So that has been leading to this abnormal pattern.”
Earlier today, the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Haines, Klukwan and Skagway that is expected to last through Friday evening.
“There is somewhat of a chance that the heat advisory could be extended through Saturday,” Perez said. “We are seeing some of those above 80-degree temperatures picking up, especially once you get out the Haines Highway.”
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