Point MacKenzie Road fire 12:00 am

POINT MACKENZIE ROAD - A fire that has burned more than 691 acres appears to be moving south into the Goose Bay State Game Refuge. If it burns into the boggy area, fire officials expect to gain the upper-hand on it by early Sunday morning. Likely more than 300 firefighters have responded from Division of Forestry, MAT-SU Borough fire departments, Chugiak Fire Department, and the Anchorage Fire Department. Two structures were lost to flames. Officials do not know if the buildings were cabins. The roads nearby were undeveloped and inaccessible by fire apparatus. The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Goose Bay Elementary for any evacuees. Several people chose to evacuate and went to family and friend's homes. Two Division of Forestry firefighters received minor injuries. Two air tankers have been continuously dropping retardant. Two helicopters are expected to be dropping water on the fire throughout the night. The fire is not contained at this time. There are still active areas in which firefighters are attacking the fire. Fire officials were impressed to find that the residents of South Donahue Subdivision, south of the fire, had made defensible space, by earlier clearing brush and trees away from homes and structures. Fire officials have developed a strategy to protect these properties and evacuate residents if necessary. MAT-SU Animal Care was on scene for possible evacuation of animals. The origin of the fire is located south of mile five on Point MacKenzie Road. Point MacKenzie Road is located past mile 17 on Knik-Goose Bay Road. A map is attached showing the approximate burn area, and a photo is attached. This is the end of the fire updates for the night. The next scheduled update will be tomorrow morning.