Smoke in south Anchorage may be from Kenai wildfire

 AFD says smoke over South Anchorage may be from Kenai wildfire.
AFD says smoke over South Anchorage may be from Kenai wildfire. (KTUU)
Published: Jun. 7, 2019 at 8:09 PM AKDT
Email This Link
Share on Pinterest
Share on LinkedIn

If you are seeing smoke in south Anchorage, don't be alarmed.

The Anchorage Fire Department is reporting that smoke from a Kenai wildfire is drifting north, all the way to Anchorage.

A public information officer with the Anchorage Fire Department told KTUU over the phone that they don't have any active fires in south Anchorage, but they have crews driving through the area to make sure.

Beth Ipsen with the Bureau of Land Management said in an email that people on the Anchorage Hillside are seeing smoke from the Swan Lake Fire, and that will continue to drift north until the early morning hours of Saturday.

The Swan Lake Fire is burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge about 12 miles northeast of Sterling. The lightning caused fire was 200 acres on Thursday, but grew to 471 acres by 5:30 p.m. on Friday after it started burning in a stringer of black spruce trees.

The fire is burning in a limited protection area and is not threatening any values at risk.

AFD is asking the public not to call 9-1-1 unless they see active fire or smoke.

Copyright 2019 KTUU. All rights reserved.