Update on the Willow, Alaska, fire

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.adn.com/article/20150615/unpredictable-alaska-wildfire-keeps-firefighters-guessing-disaster-declared

WILLOW -- A wildfire that swallowed homes and prompted a 15-mile-long evacuation order Sunday in and around the Southcentral Alaska community of Willow spent Monday sitting mostly stagnant at about 6,500 acres, though it remained dynamic enough to keep emergency responders on the move.

The fire picked up later in the day as erratic winds began whipping it back into action. The Sockeye fire had grown to 8,500 acres as of 9:30 p.m. Monday, according to Vickielee Fenster, a public information officer for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

The human cost of the fire also began to emerge, with reports of animals killed in the fast-moving blaze and at least 35 to 45 structures burned. Hundreds of people who fled the fire holed up at shelters north and south of its perimeters, with an estimated 1,700 homes in the evacuation area and thousands of animals displaced by Monday afternoon.

“It's very somber up in Willow right now,” said Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly member Vern Halter, who lives in the area. “It's a very serious fire.”

<snip>

I read earlier that over 4500 animals, mostly sled dogs and horses, have been evacuated.

[countryjake]

1. Reading the captions on all of those pictures is heartbreaking.

Some of the pics themselves are amazing, with Mt McKinley looming or the sun peering thru the smoke.

Inconceivable how anyone is able to effectively evacuate with up to 52 dogs to save. What a horrific situation.

I read another article at your link about all the mushers uprooted, some homeless now, with their dogs stuck in limbo. Like that one photo at the slideshow you shared, with a long line of worried woofies just chained up to a fence.

I still can't get over that one family who moved 25 dogs in an 8-dog truck!


Here's that other article:

Susitna Valley mushers wait for word on homes, kennels after chaos of sled dog evacuations June 15, 2015
https://www.adn.com/article/20150615/hundreds-sled-dogs-displaced-fire-moves-though-alaska-mushing-hub

[Blue_In_AK]

2. It's been a logistical nightmare.

So many mushers live up in that area. I can't even imagine trying to evacuate 40 or 50 dogs. People do come to each other's aid, though, in these situations. I'm impressed that Martin Buser has taken in so many canine refugees.

[brer cat]

3. "People do come to each other's aid"

is so critical at a time like this with so many dogs to be moved to safety along with the people. It must help also, at least somewhat, psychologically to know that someone has your back.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. The air quality is so bad in Anchorage today

that the sky looks overcast even though it's clear. The smell of smoke is everywhere. With the temperature approaching 75 and no breeze, it's pretty stifling. We put off going for our morning walk.