Firefighters have significantly slowed the spread of a wildfire that broke out Wednesday night on the Kenai Peninsula in Sterling.
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The blaze, now called the Grandview Fire, grew from eight to 50 acres over about seven hours near the intersection of Swanson River Road and Jacobsen Avenue.
Emery Johnson, a spokesperson for the Alaska Division of Forestry, said late Wednesday that the fire is not considered contained but that it’s bounded to the south by a firebreak and to the north by fire resistant chemicals.
Fire activity has decreased, Johnson said, but operations were set to continue through the evening and into Thursday to strengthen and secure containment lines.
The state first reported the fire at eight acres about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday roughly 10 miles east of Soldotna burning in grass, brush and black spruce trees.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation late Wednesday, although Johnson said lightning had struck the area recently. Alaska Wildland Fire Information’s interactive fire map previously attributed the fire to human causes.
The state forestry division initially said the blaze threatened vehicles and power lines. Homer Electric Association cut power to more than 3,400 customers after emergency services asked the cooperative to de-energize its power lines. HEA restored power to all customers about an hour and a half later.
Additional firefighters and heavy equipment from Palmer and Fairbanks assisted with operations. Around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, helicopters could still be seen ferrying water to and from the fire site. Johnson said crews from Palmer will work on the fire through the night.
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The state did not issue any evacuation orders for Sterling and said east wind was blowing the blaze away from nearby homes.
Central Emergency Services assisted state crews with firefighting. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management said responding agencies had not requested additional support from the borough. But acting Emergency Manager Paul McBride said the borough was collaborating with the forestry division’s public information office.
Alaska State Troopers are asking people to avoid the section of Swanson River Road near Jacobsen Avenue.
The Division of Forestry described the current level of fire danger as “very high.” Burn permits are currently required on the Kenai Peninsula.
Up-to-date information about wildland fires around the state is available on the Alaska Wildland Fire website.
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