October 18, 2016 - 12:48 PM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Latest on a fire north of the Glenn Highway near Sutton (all times local):
11:45 a.m.
Firefighters working to contain a wildfire north of the Glenn Highway near Sutton are dealing with diminished winds after three days in which gusts reached 60 mph.
The state Division of Forestry says winds Tuesday fell to about half their previous strength and are blowing at 10-15 mph with gusts to 25 mph.
The unusual late-season fire started Saturday and covers a half-square mile. There was no growth overnight.
About 90 people are working on the fire.
Firefighters say drivers should continue to anticipate delays between Miles 54-58 Glenn Highway because of firefighting equipment on the highway.
The Division of Forestry also is monitoring a 5-acre fire 10 miles north of the main fire near Mile 68.5 Glenn Highway. The fire began Monday afternoon when a tree blew over and hit a power line.
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8 a.m.
Strong wind continues to hamper efforts to contain a wildfire north of the Glenn Highway near Sutton.
The fire covering a half-square mile came within 75 feet of the highway Monday morning. State officials closed the highway for a half hour.
The Division of Forestry bulldozed two lines parallel to the fire to keep it from moving closer to the highway and west into the Moose Creek drainage, where it could threaten homes.
Officials Monday night estimated containment at 22 per cent.
The Division of Forestry says the fire is burning mostly surface fuels such as dry leaves and grass.
A forestry investigator says embers escaping from a debris burn Saturday morning started the wildfire.
Three smaller fires sprang up Monday when wind pushed trees onto power lines.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016