Progress made on Denali-area fire; Officials searching for information about the cause

Officials have reported that the Riley Fire in Denali is now at 31% with the line that encompasses most of the southern and eastern perimeter. Denali Borough has lifted the evacuation status and residents who were previously evacuated can now return home. Denali National Park and Preserve is also in the process of moving staff back into the park and will reopen on Wednesday, July 10.

Crews are working to extinguish them and increase containment, while some remaining smoke was detected in drainages on the northeastern edge of the fire. Over the weekend, firefighters’ attention will turn to the green islands within the fire perimeter.

The Riley Fire is what firefighters refer to as a dirty fire, meaning there is a mix of burned, partially burned, and unburned vegetation within the fire perimeter. There is also a deep layer of duff consisting of roots, leaves, needles, twigs, and other organic matter that allows the fire to smolder and spread underground. When the fire burns tree roots, wind can easily blow them down, just like the strong winds the area has experienced over the last few days. The trees fall against each other and in every direction. Over the next few days, firefighters will be assessing where hot spots remain in the fire and will extinguish them

Meanwhile, the National Park Service is asking anyone with information about the origin of the fire to contact officials. In a post to social media, the National Park Service made a request for information from anyone who may have witnessed the initial stages of the Riley Fire, specifically between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. Specifically, anyone who was in the vicinity of the Horseshoe Lake Trail, Mt. Healy Trail, Sugarloaf Trail, or on the southbound passenger train during that time and has information relating to the fire should contact the Tip Line at 888-653-0009.