Butte fire scorches estimated two acres

Michael Rovito/Frontiersman

An afternoon of sprucing up the yard turned into a brief wildfire Wednesday after winds fanned the flames of a small fire pit in Butte.

Parker Strickland, 22, said he was cleaning up the yard of a small cabin near Mile 5 of Knik River Rd., when a gust of wind blew embers from a fire pit onto the grass then into a wooded area nearby. The blaze quickly spread, burning an estimated two acres, according to Butte fire Capt. John Akers.

As the fire began, Strickland said he flagged down a passing motorist who called the fire in. He then attempted to use a pair of pants to extinguish the blaze.

“I just tried to save the house,” Strickland said.

As firefighters and troopers sorted out damage, Strickland sat on a log near the source of the fire talking with officials and explaining what happened.

Alaska State Trooper Joshua Varys said Strickland would most likely be cited for the fire. A red flag warning in the Mat-Su Borough had been issued at the time.

Firefighters from Butte and Forest Service personnel were still squelching hot spots around 3 p.m. Akers said firefighters would stay on the scene until they were sure the fire is completely out.

No homes were damaged in the fire, although flames came close to one house near Strickland's cabin. A trooper on the scene said no one was home in that house. The fire was one of many Wednesday as emergency workers responded to many similar calls. Police scanner traffic was largely dominated by calls reporting out of control burns Wednesday.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@frontiersman.com.