Ice jam has Talkeetna area officials wary

TALKEETNA — Add a fresh addition to the list of local worries — ice jams on the Talkeetna River.

“We’ve had it occur a couple of times,” said Talkeetna Fire Department Capt. Eric Chappel.

He said ice blocks the flow of water, causing it to back up and the river to swell.

“It’s made it on to one person’s lawn by about 10 or 15 feet. Other than that, it hasn’t come over the banks of the river,” he said.

That happened late Wednesday evening when it was dark and hard to get a read on what was up with the river.

“By the time light came around, it had pretty much drained out,” Chappel said.

Thursday, he said, officials had made contact with some people who live on the river.

“They’re watching it for us and letting us know if it comes, but it’s not currently jammed,” he said. “There is quite a bit of ice out there so it could jam but it’s not a huge concern right now.”

It’s been a rough autumn in Talkeetna. Three recent suspicious fires have emergency responders worried there might be a firebug in their midst. And the area was arguably the hardest hit in September’s flooding.

—Andrew Wellner