Fire crews focused this weekend on a blaze 19 miles south of Sleetmute. 29 crewmembers are building a firebreak on the northwest side in case the fire moves towards the village. They are hoping to starve the wildfire of fuel before it reaches any structures. The fire spread over 3 thousand acres in two days. It received limited rain this weekend.
Near Lime Village, crews have contained the spot fire that jumped across the Stony river, southeast of the village. That fire grew to 35 acres. A Shageluk crew is now working to fight that fire south of the river. A protection line is in place around the community with hoses and pumps ready if the fire moves in. Mapping showed the fire at about 200 thousand acres, a drop of 32 thousand acres in 24 hours.
Of the 38 fires in the Southwest Area so far this season, 23 have been declared out. Five fires have been placed in monitor status only.
Statewide, 414 fire have burned over 830 thousand acres this spring.
