Video of the Alaska Funny River fire at the northeast break line

[Blue_In_AK]

http://m.

&sns=fb


Air quality in Anchorage continues to be horrible.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Holy crap

I just can't find the words to express my gratitude to the firefighters.

WOW.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I know.

As of this morning, the fire covered almost 124,000 acres and is 20% contained. There is so much smoke in Anchorage, it's hard to determine if it's smoke or clouds until you step outside and smell it.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Here is a picture taken in the Mat-Su Valley, 200 miles north of the fire

(Photo by Jim Wright)

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Emotions run high for Kenai Peninsula residents living under wildfire's cloud

http://www.adn.com/2014/05/24/3485213/emotions-run-high-for-kenai-peninsula.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

<snip>


Late-night evacuation

At more than 96,000 acres as of Saturday morning, the Funny River wildfire is now the second-largest in the refuge's 72-year history, surpassing the 80,000 acres burned in the 1969 Swanson River fire. The fire's size is now second only to the Skilak Lake fire, which burned 310,000 acres in 1947.

On Saturday, the Alaska Army National Guard sent two Black Hawk helicopters with water buckets and crews to boost firefighting efforts through Monday. Other aerial forces include five helicopters and four Canadian water-scooping air tankers. About 400 personnel are now assigned to the fire.

Approximately 1,300 residents were placed under evacuation watch Saturday morning in the communities of Funny River and Kasilof residents east of the Sterling Highway from mile 103 to Kasilof River Bridge. The advisories came as the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the western Kenai Peninsula, calling for strong south-to-southwest winds of 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph along Cook Inlet.

Winds were expected to increase during the afternoon and peak in the evening hours, likely creating more fire activity, officials said.

<snip>

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/24/3485213/emotions-run-high-for-kenai-peninsula.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy