by Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection
June 15, 2025: After a strong initial attack Saturday, the Oskawalik Fire (#122) is currently an estimated 350 acres and listed at five percent contained. Firefighters worked on a direct attack along the fire’s edge and point protection for cabins and Native Allotments at risk from this uncontained wildfire.
This is the season’s first large, full-suppression wildfire in the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection’s (DOF) Alaska Coastal Region.
Located near the mouth of the Oskawalik River where it meets the Kuskokwim River, the fire is less than 10 miles southwest of the village of Crooked Creek and about 35 miles west of Sleetmute. Steady winds up to 20 mph pushed the Oskawalik Fire through a mix of tundra and black spruce. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Due to the remote location of this wildfire, BLM Alaska Smokejumpers supported by aircraft provided the resources necessary to begin point protection on a cabin and allotment. DOF McGrath Helitack responded to the wildfire report, gave a size up to dispatch, inserted five DOF fighters and configured their helicopter for bucket work.
The smokejumpers dropped 12 firefighters initially and then deployed a second load of jumpers later in the day for a total of 24. The smokejumpers also dropped para-cargo with portable pumps, hoses, equipment and supplies to support point protection efforts.
DOF Southwest #2 Suppression Module, a local crew comprised of emergency firefighters from southwest Alaska, were flown from McGrath to Crooked Creek, and then shuttled to the fire by boat. Southwest #2 were recently trained in McGrath and helped perform fuels mitigation work in the area.
As with most remote full-suppression fires in the state, aircraft played a significant role in the initial attack effort. In addition to the McGrath helicopter, retardant tanker T-544 was dispatched to the incident with an Aerial Supervision Module to serve as both lead plane and Air Attack. Two single engine water scoopers arrived on scene to drop water on the fire. The scoopers remained in McGrath Saturday night in order to support suppression efforts this morning. Two additional scoopers were ordered to the incident and will arrive Sunday.
Firefighters will continue with a direct attack and work the flanks of the fire while providing structure protection for the identified values at risk. Additional DOF crews, Chena Interagency Hotshot Crew, Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, and Southwest #1 Suppression Module, have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive on the incident Sunday.
A Fire Weather Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Tuesday afternoon through late Tuesday night for areas in southwest Alaska, including McGrath, for forecasted lightning storms.
Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection issued this news release on June 15, 2025.
Be the first to comment