McDonald Fire 2024

The lightning-caused McDonald Fire started on Saturday, June 8. The fire is burning in the BLM Alaska Fire Service Military Fire Management Zone, an area designated for limited management, meaning that unless the fire threatens property or people, it will be allowed to play its natural ecological role. This strategy considers firefighter safety, values at risk, and impacts on the surrounding area. 

The fire is burning in a mixture of black spruce and hardwood trees and has reached the Tanana River, but areas of unburned fuels remain along the river's edge. Evacuation preparations have been issued by the borough to the east of the fire in the areas south of Salcha along the Richardson Highway. Updated evacuation information can be found at: https://ak-fairbanksnorthstarborough.civicplus.com/180/Emergency-Operations. 

Firefighters are monitoring burnout operations on the east side of the 5 Mile Creek cabins, and crews continue creating a contingency fireline on the west side of the cabins. To protect military infrastructure, firefighters removed hazardous fuels and installed sprinklers, pumps, and hose. 

McDonald Fire managers extended fire response to include the Clear Fire (#204), to the northwest of the McDonald Fire. The Clear Fire and McDonald Fire merged on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.  

On July 7 at 7:00 am, Idaho Team 1 IMT 3 assumed command of the McDonald Fire from the BLM Alaska Fire Service Type 3 organization.