Riley Fire Updates

Active fire suppression activities were completed Saturday afternoon and, in cooperation with the National Park Service, two popular trails reopened last night. The Horseshoe Lake Trail and the Mount Healy Overlook Trail are both now open. With most fire crews departing today and tomorrow, the Riley Creek Campground and Riley Creek Day Use Area are scheduled to reopen tomorrow, July 15th. Crews have been using Riley Creek as a staging and base camp area.

Updates on the Riley Fire will not be posted here over the weekend of Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th. During this time, please visit akfireinfo.com for the latest information.

Firefighters are presently searching for any remaining heat to a depth of 300 feet along the fire’s perimeter, with special focus on the short, uncontained section at the fire’s northwestern edge. Aerial resources continue to assist firefighters by providing infrared heat imagery and bucket drops on some of the partially burned sections, and they will continue focusing on any heat in or near unburned vegetation. Smoke may be visible within the fire, especially with increased

Normal operations have resumed in Denali National Park and Preserve. Denali National Park Tours Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture and the National Park Service have welcomed visitors back. Some areas, however, remain closed due to firefighting support activities.

As of today, Denali National Park and Preserve is open and returning to normal operations. Firefighters continued to mop-up the fire’s edge yesterday with the assistance of un-crewed aircraft systems (UAS) infrared heat sensing technology. Minimal smoke is visible; however, smoke may be evident as temperatures increase in the coming days. The Riley Fire will transition tomorrow at 7:00 a.m to a Type 3 organization.

Significant progress was made yesterday on securing the fire’s edge towards increased containment and fire managers are confident that 96% of the line is now contained. As hotspots are identified, firefighters are working with aerial bucket drops to cool remaining heat.

On Sunday, firefighters used unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) equipped with infrared sensors to detect heat signals in the interior of the fire. The UAS were able to identify remaining hot spots and pinpoint their location so that firefighters could extinguish them. Crews will continue this operation on Monday.

At 4:30am on Wednesday, July 10th, the National Park Service and Denali National Park Tours Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture will welcome visitors back to the park. Normal operations will resume, except for Riley Creek Campground and Day Use Area, and the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which will remain closed due to ongoing firefighting and support activities in the area.

The cause of the Riley Fire is under investigation. Investigators are wanting to hear from anyone who might have information.

There is more containment line again today on the Riley Fire — now at 31%. The line encompasses most of the southern and eastern perimeter. Denali Borough lifted the evacuation status and residents who were evacuated can 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.

Saturday, July 6, the evacuation status for the Campus Housing area of Denali National Park and Preserve was lowered to Green – Ready status. Residents of this housing area may begin to return to their homes this evening. At 4:30 am on Wednesday, July 10, normal operations will resume, with the exception of Riley Creek Campground and Day Use Area, and the Horseshoe Lake Trail, which will remain closed due to ongoing firefighting and support activities.

The Riley Fire is now at 25% containment, encompassing the southeast edge and northernmost tip. Fire managers are confident that the fire will not cross the containment line, shown black on the map. Crews are working to extend the containment line by going further into the burned area and extinguishing heat.

Many businesses are opening in the Nenana River Canyon now that electricity has been restored. Denali National Park and Preserve remains closed as long as the southern edge of the fire is unsecured. Although rain has a moderating effect on the fire, gusty winds can fan flames and increase fire behavior, as fuels remain dry despite the recent rainfall.

Golden Valley Electric Association restored electricity to the Nenana River Canyon and Denali National Park at 8:00 am after testing the lines overnight and finding them safe. This allows businesses to reopen in the Nenana River Canyon while ensuring firefighting operations can continue safely.

Progress is being made on efforts to contain the Riley Fire, active in the entrance area of Denali National Park. Fire crews continue to focus their efforts on the fire’s southern flank, the portion of the fire closest to facilities and infrastructure. As of Wednesday morning, July 3, crews report 25% containment. Fire size remains stable at an estimated 388 acres, with low fire activity overnight. Cooler and calmer weather is helping crews with containment efforts.

As operations get started for the day, we’d like to highlight information shared by BLM Fire Service on helicopter operations.

Fire crews continue to make good progress fighting the Riley Fire adjacent to the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve. Two interagency hotshot crews from the Lower 48, the Mill Creek and Golden Eagles Hotshots, are fully engaged in the incident and will continue their efforts into the evening. As of 6:00pm on Tuesday, July 2, fire crews have continued a strong response along the fire’s southern flank and have reached 25% containment. Fire activity today has been smo

The Riley Fire continues to be active near the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, requiring park officials to keep the park closed Tuesday, July 2. Smokejumpers and fire crews, combined with strong support from aerial resources, have made good progress over the past 24 hours, particularly along the fire’s southern flank and have officially reached 10% containment. Using better imagery data, fire managers now estimate the fire to be at 388 acres. 

The Riley Fire is affecting local air quality conditions.

The Riley Fire continues to be active near the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, causing park officials to keep the park closed Tuesday, July 2. Smokejumpers and fire crews, combined with strong support from aerial resources, have made significant progress, particularly along the fire’s southern flank. 

Evacuation Status General Information.

The Riley Fire continues to burn near the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, causing ongoing impacts to visitor operations. Jumpers and crews on the ground worked through the night and made good progress, particularly along the fire’s southern flank. To date, twelve smoke jumpers have joined the existing fire crews battling the fire, with four interagency hotshot crews enroute to assist. Various aircraft from multiple agencies are also contributing to the efforts.

Evacuation orders have been issued for Denali National Park visitors staying in the Riley Creek Campground near the park entrance. All visitor facilities and park operations in Denali’s entrance area will be closed on July 1. 

Closures are in effect due to the fire.

Updated evacuation information.

Evacuation orders are being issued for Denali National Park and partner employees residing in some housing areas near the park entrance. Visitors staying in the Riley Creek Campground, as well as residents living further west inside the park, are being informed to standby and be ready to evacuate if necessary.

At 12:30pm on Sunday, June 30, a fire was reported about one mile north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, west of milepost 239 Parks Highway. At this time, no structures are immediately threatened. Name the Riley Fire, it is burning in black spruce in steep terrain near the Alaska Railroad.