Matanuska-Susitna Borough

Kings River

Mat-Su | Patty Sullivan | Saturday, May 27, 2006

Glenn Highway Mile 67 - The fire has burned to the highway. Retardant dropped today on the Glenn Highway at mile 67 has resulted in a very slick road surface. The Highway was closed in both directions due to downed trees blocking the roadway and the slickness caused by the retardant. State DOT expects to have one lane open by 6:15 this evening at the soonest. Pilot cars will escort motorists through the area. Fire crews have successfully laid hose around all 7 acres of the fire which has not grown in recent hours. A heavy line of retardant has been dropped around the fire. The Kings River fire is seven acres, about one mile east of the Kings River Bridge, six miles east of Sutton. Twenty homes are within a mile of the fire. One threatened home has been heavily protected by retardant and structural firefighting crews. An Anchorage task force was diverted from the ongoing 700-acre Point MacKenzie Road fire. Also on scene are the Tazlina hotshots, and Forestry's 10-person Pioneer Peak fire crew, 8 smoke jumpers, an air tanker, and helicopter. Alaska State Troopers have evacuated the Kings River campground. One civilian at the campground twisted her ankle. Fire fighters are cautiously optimistic they can control the fire with retardant. Winds are at 20-25 mph and steady. Attached is a map of the fire's path.

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