Fire threatens Meadow Lakes homes

MEADOW LAKES -- Firefighters from several agencies responded Wednesday night to a blaze that threatened homes just north of the Little Susitna River and Schrock Road before being brought under control.

Fire officials said no structures were harmed despite some close calls.

The initial report came in at 6:28 p.m., said Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief Jack Krill. The last units didn't leave the scene until three hours later.

"This fire had lots of potential," Krill said. "It was a real dramatic situation. A house was in the direct path of the fire but the units got in and protected it. There was very successful structure protection."

"It came within a few feet of some residences," added District 2 Chief Bill Gamble. "This could have been a disaster."

In six different locations, embers from the fire were whipped by wind over houses and ignited a new fire on the other side, Krill said. All of those burns were extinguished without damage to the structures.

The fire, one of five in the Mat-Su on Wednesday, burned 2.2 acres in mixed hardwoods and black spruce, according to State Forestry spokesman Glen Holt.

He said the fire began on private property in a burn pile which was lit and properly tended before the May 23 burn permit suspension went into effect. The pile was rekindled by Wednesday evening's winds after being considered out, Holt said.

"The landowner, who was on location, called 911 and several neighbors followed suit, claiming the blaze looked like it was in their back yard," he said.

Holt urged Valley residents to check their old burn piles to make sure embers are not smoldering undetected. Gamble suggested people actually tear the burn pile apart to make sure it is out.

"We've had fires that have gone underground and come up the following year," he said. "It can go dormant in peat for a long time."

The Division of Forestry responded to the Meadow Lakes fire with three engines and two helicopters. Krill said retardant bombers and smoke jumpers were ordered but were not needed, as it turned out.

Other departments that sent equipment and personnel were Meadow Lakes, one engine and two tankers; Big Lake, an engine and tanker; Central Mat-Su, an engine, tanker and brush truck from Station 61 along with an engine and tanker from Station 65; Palmer, one engine and a tanker and Houston, a tanker and brush truck.

Two command vehicles from Central Mat-Su and one from Big Lake also were on the scene.

With so many agencies responding and so much equipment at the fire site, Gamble said, it took about 15 minutes to get things coordinated. Smooth functioning is needed not only to best combat the fire but also for firefighter safety, he said.

"The level of cooperation and teamwork last night between the Division of Forestry and the volunteer departments was fantastic," Gamble said Friday afternoon. "And we were even somewhat short-handed because of the Tok fire," he said, where some local personnel and equipment were still working Wednesday night.

The five wildfires on Wednesday pushed this year's Mat-Su total to 100 -- more than the yearly average, Holt said. He noted that Meadow Lakes is the fastest growing area of the state, with subdivisions springing up in the scenic forest and lake community.

A significant amount of black spruce throughout Meadow Lakes makes it particularly conducive to wildfires, he said.