Unpredictable Alaska wildfire keeps crews guessing as disast

Getting close to Anchorage brush range where some Alaskan native village is at

Marc Lester / ADN

WILLOW -- A wildfire that swallowed homes and prompted a 15-mile-long evacuation order Sunday in and around the Southcentral Alaska community of Willow spent Monday sitting mostly stagnant at about 6,500 acres, though it remained dynamic enough to keep emergency responders on the move.


The fire picked up later in the day as erratic winds began whipping it back into action. The Sockeye fire had grown to 8,500 acres as of 9:30 p.m. Monday, according to Vickielee Fenster, a public information officer for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. (A subsequent survey reduced that estimate by about 1,000 acres to 7,585 acres.)


www.adn.com/article/20150615/unpredictable-alaska-wildfire-keeps-firefighters-guessing-disaster-declared