McKinley, Dehka fires human-caused, report says

The McKinley and Deshka fires are human-caused, according to a report released by the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center.

No further information about the specific causes of the fire was available as of Wednesday night. But crews continued to battle the two fires, which have chewed through nearly 7,000 acres of the Susitna Valley in the Willow area, and Division of Forestry officials reported progress with the McKinley Fire.

Forestry provided a new estimation Wednesday night, with a size of about 3,700 acres for the McKinley Fire That number is down from 4,400 the day before. Forestry also estimates about 80 structures lost in the fire.

A total of 201 crew members are battling the fire, which is 10 percent contained.

An evacuation order remains in effect for areas on both sides of the Parks Highway from Mile 82 to 91. The highway is open, as of Wednesday, but the Alaska State Troopers are asking people to avoid that area if possible. Access along that stretch is only available with a pilot car escort, and delays are expected. Residents evacuated are not expected to be allowed to return to their properties until at least next week, authorities said.

Forestry reported no significant growth Wednesday during the past 24 hours. The fire stood at just more than 2,200 acres, with five percent contained. Forestry also reported no structures lost as of Wednesday. Crews have been focusing efforts of protecting cabins along Red Shirt Lake.

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Moosey and Mayor Vern Halter signed a signed a disaster declaration Thursday because of the fires. The borough is also asking Gov. Mike Dunleavy to also declare a disaster emergency and provide state assistance.

The Alaska State Troopers, Mat-Su Borough, Division of Forestry and Department of Transportation have issued a flurry of alerts Sunday evening, ranging from road closures to mandatory evacuations. The Mat-Su Borough School District announced that Trapper Creek Elementary, Talkeetna Elementary, Willow Elementary and Susitna Valley Jr./Sr High School will be closed all week.

The American Red Cross of Alaska moved its evacuation center on the south side of the McKinley Fire to the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla. The Red Cross had been set up at the Willow Community Center. The switch was effective as of Sunday at 8 p.m. There is also the evacuation center set up on the north side of the fire at the Upper Susitna Senior Center in Talkeetna.