Fire crews in about an hour contained a one-acre wildfire that started in yard close to a home in the village of Nikolaevsk, 10 miles east of Anchor Point Wednesday.
Andy Alexandrou, a spokesperson with the Division of Forestry, said a quick response from 19 firefighters with the Anchor Point Volunteer Fire Department and Kachemak Bay Fire Department saved the structure. The Division of Forestry dispatched 3 engines and the helicopter to the fire on Tomski Avenue at 3 p.m. and contained it at 4:18 p.m. A total of 32 firefighters worked to put out the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but Alexandrou said it was human caused.
On Tuesday the Division of Forestry lifted the burn suspension. Alexandrou said despite rain in the forecast Thursday, people need to obtain a permit before burning debris and to use caution and exercise safe practices.
Alexandrou said the Funny River Horse Trail wildfire is over 196,618 acres and remains at 60 percent containment. The Type 3 Incident Management Team is led by Incident Commander Tim Soliday and stationed at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex. A crew of 46 personnel is assigned to the fire with two excavators and two helicopters.
The Funny River Horse Trail wildfire is still under investigation but officials have confirmed it is human caused.
Alexandrou said residents will continue to see smoke columns burning inside the fire perimeter for several weeks.
The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center has reported there have been 249 fires covering 218,874 acres in the state.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com
