Science and Environment

The East Fork Fire in Western Alaska is the state's largest at the moment, estimated at more than 150,000 acres Thursday, and it's burning in a region where, just a couple decades ago, large fires would not have been expected.

The East Fork Fire, currently burning in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, is the largest fire on record in the area, having burned some 125,000 acres so far, according to Rick Thoman, a climate specialist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

But fire officials warn that it will likely pick up again as skies get sunnier.

Firefighters aided for another day by favorable winds made additional progress against a historic wildfire that had threatened several Southwest Alaska communities.

Winds shifted Monday in Southwest Alaska, pushing a wildfire away from a village it has threatened over the last several days, officials said.

As a historically large tundra fire burns to its north, about half of the community of Pilot Station is currently without running water. The fire is about 12 miles from the village, and the Pilot Station mayor said that he may soon have to turn off running water to the entire community.

Residents of St. Mary's are donating food to firefighters and helping clear brush as the region's largest wildfire looms just 3.5 miles from town.

Regional airline Yute Commuter Service canceled most of its flights on June 9, and instead sent its fleet to St. Mary’s to shuttle 80 evacuees to Bethel.

Around half of Tununak had been without internet and phone lines since February, when a fire destroyed the community’s washeteria and took some internet infrastructure with it.

The group discussed how to continue to provide subsistence opportunities despite low Chinook counts so far on the lower river.