The extent of the Swan Lake Fire can be seen in this map released Monday. (Courtesy Alaska Incident Management Team)

The extent of the Swan Lake Fire can be seen in this map released Monday. (Courtesy Alaska Incident Management Team)

Dunleavy tours fire scene as blaze grows

Swan Lake Fire surpasses 70,000 acres

Gov. Mike Dunleavy visited the Kenai Peninsula Monday to meet with fire crews and personnel battling the Swan Lake Fire north of Sterling.

Dunleavy met with the incident commander, state and federal officials and on-scene fire crews, and attended a status meeting at the incident command in Sterling, spokesman Matt Shuckerow said in an email.

Shuckerow said Dunleavy focused on learning about the fire, hearing more about the state and federal response efforts, and thanking those working to contain the blaze.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

As of Monday, the Swan Lake Fire had grown to more than 70,330 acres, or around 110 square miles, according to a Monday update from the Alaska Incident Management Team.

The fire is slowly moving northeast.

Nearly 500 personnel are making progress on the fire, with about 15% of it contained.

Warm and dry weather is testing fire lines, as well as dry black spruce. Fire containment lines were held on Sunday, north of the highway and Homer Electric transmission line, according to the update. Crews in the area continued suppression repair, restoration work and mop-up of the four-day burnout across 17 miles, which was designed to protect the community, the update said.

In the muskeg northwest of the fire, activity increased Sunday in an area that was burned in the 2017 East Fork Fire. Firefighters moved resources to respond to the re-burn, the update said.

To the north, hotshot fire crews sustained progress on Sunday, protecting public use cabins and ENSTAR gas pipeline infrastructure.

Smoke and haze conditions improved over the weekend, however, smoke remains a concern.

Smoke is expected to be moderate and weather conditions should continue to be warm and dry, with light winds, the update said.

Residents concerned about the safety of their buildings should remove needles from roofs and flammable vegetation from around buildings, the update said.

“This is one of the best ways to better protect your home from fire,” the update said.

More in News

Concert-goers listen to The Discopians at Concert on the Lawn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
‘Dancing at the end of the world’

KBBI AM 890 hosted their annual Concert on the Lawn Saturday.

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in