Wildfire in Alaska grows to over 21,000 acres

[steven johnson]

Source: The Associated Press

Thu, May 28, 2009 (5:48 p.m.)
A wildfire in interior Alaska has grown to 21,760 acres and is threatening more than two dozen structures.
Forestry spokesman Andy Alexandrou says more than 170 firefighters were battling the fire about 225 miles northwest of Anchorage on Thursday. More crews were on the way.
A total of 33 structures, mostly cabins along the Kuskokwim and Takotna rivers, were threatened.
There are at least two other wildfires in interior Alaska.
A nearly 1,900-acre blaze is burning about 20 miles southeast of Sleetmute. And another covering about 3 acres is burning about 100 miles northwest of McGrath, near the Innoko Wildlife Refuge boundary.


Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/28/wildfire-in-alaska-grows-to-over-21000-acres/

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Millions of acres burn here some summers.

Wildfires consumed over 11 million acres in 2004 and 2005. Usually they don't bother fighting them unless there are structures involved. In this case, the fire is coming very near the town of McGrath, pop. 400, so it's being taken seriously. A couple of weeks ago a wildfire burned outside of Homer and destroyed some homes. It's just something people in the remoter areas have to deal with every year.

[BeFree]

2. So

Government socialism is alive and well in Palin's Alaska? They've got crews out protecting a few cabins? If there are no cabins then its burn baby burn?

[NV Whino]

4. It has nothing to do with socialism or Palin

It has to do with resources and accessibility. It also has to do with the fact that fires are a natural restorative to the land.

[BeFree]

5. Yep

Let the cabins burn! That will restore the land. Look, the government is spending buckoo bucks and risking lives just to save a few cabins. It is socialism at its finest!!

[Blue_In_AK]

8. These cabins are people's homes.

You would just have them burn? Many of the folks who live out there are Native Alaskans. Are you suggesting they should be ignored.

Do you think these are vacation homes or something?

[jehovas_waitress]

6. Correct. Yellowstone came back great after the 1988 fires.

In certain parts of the park, half of the burned areas had new growth the very next year.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. what part of "the fire is coming very near the town of McGrath" do you not understand?

.
.
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I can assume one thing for certain

YOU don't live in McGrath . . .

[pam4water]

3. I haven't heard of a wildfire in Alaska before.

[Arctic Dave]

7. Lightning strikes in the Interior cause a couple dozen a year.