image: This is an aqua image of the Funny River fire in Alaska. view more
Credit: NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team
According to the Alaskan Division of Forestry the Funny River fire was very active overnight (May 20) because of low humidity. Currently the fire is estimated to be near 7,000 acres and has reached Tustumena Lake. It is spreading east and west along the shore, is 10 miles long, and is about a mile wide with broadening at the lake shore. There have been no evacuations or reports of any structures lost.
Early this morning (May 21), flame lengths of 125 feet with erratic fire behavior were reported. Winds for today are forecasted to remain out of the north keeping the fire headed in a southerly direction. Crews are working to build line on the western edge. The fire came close but did not cross Funny River road on the north flank of the fire last night (May 20) due to the efforts of fire crews,a ir support and an existing fuel break. Firefighter activity will focus on securing the north flank on Funny River and the south west corner to safeguard the community of Kasilof. Significant smoke is blanketing the city of Soldotna.
There are 40 personnel assigned to the fire with more fire crews on their way. The Alaska Type 2 Incident Management Team has been assigned to the fire should have arrived on the scene May 20.
This natural-color satellite image was collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite on May 20, 2014. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner with information from the Alaskan Division of Forestry.