Wildfire jumps the Kenai River as Funny River blaze rages on

[Blue_In_AK]

http://www.adn.com/2014/05/26/3487676/funny-river-fire-jumps-the-kenai.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1

Firefighters anxiously awaited the arrival of rain on the Kenai Peninsula as they worked Monday to contain the edge of a huge wildfire that for the first time crossed to the north side of the Kenai River -- a 300-foot-wide natural fire buffer that failed to keep flames in check.

Winds gusting to 25 miles per hour were pushing the massive Funny River Fire, estimated on Monday evening to be just over 176,000 acres, or about 275 square miles, through an uninhabited area north of the Kenai River outside of the community of Sterling, while firefighters patrolled the western boundary of that blaze and tried to create a barrier for an estimated 100 homes and cabins in a nearby waterfront community in case the wind shifts .

Residents of Kenai Keys, which sits on the north shore of the Kenai River near Sterling, said embers started several small fires there on Sunday that were quickly put out, and that a dilapidated cabin across the river burned to the ground. But authorities said late Monday that they were still unaware of any inhabited buildings that have been destroyed by the week-old blaze.

And after several days of dry, windy conditions prime for burning, forecasters were finally predicting a 90 percent chance of rain Tuesday, with showers possible later in the week -- a huge relief for the estimated 670 firefighters assigned to the fire by Monday evening.

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Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/26/3487676/funny-river-fire-jumps-the-kenai.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy

[LeftOfWest]

1. Thanks.

Hoping for rain this morning/tomorrow as well.

Serious. Thanks again.

[Blue_In_AK]

2. The national media hasn't been paying a lot of attention to this,

which is why I keep posting these updates. The area of the fire is roughly the size of Chicago.

[WhiteTara]

6. It really says alot when Alaska is on fire

and can't be contained.

[SoapBox]

3. The limp media sure hasn't been covering this...

Wow...that's some fire.

[brer cat]

4. Thanks for keeping us updated, Blue.

I hope there is some rain soon to help.

[bearssoapbox]

5. Here's hoping for the best.

Sounds like they may be getting some relief.

This made me smile;

A local fishing lodge in Soldotna, Hooligans, was providing free rooms for an estimated 130 evacuees Monday, or "160 if you include cats and dogs," said Heather Lee, an employee there."

Good on them.

[Hekate]

7. My Gods. Thanks for the continuing updates, Blue_

Best of luck to all of you from SoCal.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Good news!

It's raining! Not much more than a drizzle, but at least it adds moisture to the air. I hope it keeps up for a few days.

Much-needed rain was falling on the Kenai Peninsula Tuesday morning as hundreds of residents forced from their homes by a huge wildfire waited for a mid-morning announcement about whether they could return.

An evacuation order for the residents of Funny River Road is expected to be lifted some time today, fire officials say.

More than 300 people had registered at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex after an evacuation order was issued from Mile 7 to the end of Funny River Road on Sunday, according to a report from Kenai radio station KSRM. Prior evacuation advisories were lifted for Kasilof, Pollard Loop and Cardwell subdivisions on Monday. The Lower Skilak Lake Campground was evacuated and is closed until further notice. The Kenai Keys area is under an evacuation advisory.

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The Funny River Horse Trail Fire was estimated at about 182,209 acres as of Tuesday morning and is 30 percent contained, according to fire information officer Brigitte Foster. The fire is staffed by 670 fire personnel. It started just over a week ago on the 1.9-million-acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.

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Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/05/27/3488208/as-rain-falls-on-fiery-kenai-peninsula.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1#storylink=cpy