A new incident management team is taking command of the Swan Lake Fire, which was estimated to be at 100,812 acres as of Monday, according to the joint agency Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Office of Emergency Management Monday update. The update says 50% of the team’s objectives have been completed and 440 personnel are working on the fire. Minimal fire spread was observed, with limited interior smoldering and isolated torching.
The new incident management team, Eastern Area Incident Managment Team Type 2, assumed command 8 a.m. Monday.
The east flank of the fire continues to smolder near the Chickaloon River, Thurman Creek and Mystery Creek drainages with little growth potential in the next 72 hours.
Natural features and existing trails are being used as fire lines and control lines to curtail eastward fire spread. The improvements will reduce the chance of fire spread in the future.
The west flank of the fire has been kept at bay with a system of wetlands and control lines. Mop up efforts are challenged by dry fuels susceptible to ignition.
While the peninsula did experience some scattered showers, the fire area did not receive any significant amount of rainfall, and despite cooler temperatures and precipitation, fuels remain abnormally dry.
A lighter southeast wind will most likely push smoke to the north, and parts of Sterling and Cooper Landing could see some light impacts overnight.
A burn ban is still in place, and open fires and campfires are prohibited on the Kenai Peninsula and other areas of the state.
