Authorities warn additional Willow area residents to be ready to evacuate

WASILLA — Residents living in another stretch of the Parks Highway are now on alert.

There is now a Level 2 set notification for those in the area of Mile 79 to 81.5, according to an alert issued Friday afternoon by the Alaska State Troopers. This is just south of the section of the Parks Highway currently under an evacuation notice because of the McKinley Fire.

The alert was issued because of predicted northeast winds of about 15 mph, according to the Department of Forestry.

In addition, a Level 1 ready notification was issued for those in the area of Mile 76 to 79 of the Parks.

An evacuation order has been in place for both sides of the Parks Highway from Mile 82 to 91.

This is all part of the three-step evacuation plan. Authorities recommend residents have an evacuation kid and emergency plan in place while under a Level 1 notice. Residents should be prepared to leave at any time with a Level 2 notice. A Level 3 notice requires residents to evacuate immediately.

This comes hours after authorities notified residents who have already lost their home in the McKinley Fire.

The total number of structures lost in the McKinley Fire is in triple digits.

The wind-aided fire that sparked Aug. 17 claimed 51 homes, approximately 80 outbuildings and three businesses, according to Interagency Incident Management Team Information Manager Kale Casey.

Casey said that he was in awe of the footage he saw on the front lines of the fire where flames shot up over 100 feet high from bark beetle kill spruce. Regional Communications Officer with the Red Cross Cari Dighton said that the Red Cross will be conducting training beginning on Aug. 23 and continuing through the weekend for volunteers who would like to help with the relief effort.

According to an update provided by the Mat-Su Borough at about 2 p.m. Friday, the size of the fire was down to about 3,700 acres. It had been reported as big as 4,400 acres. The borough is also reporting the fire is 10 percent contained.

This is a developing story. Continue to see frontiersman.com for more.