Firefighters gain control of western and southern edges

SOLDOTNA, Alaska (AP) — A fire in Alaska grew to more than 2 square miles (5.18 sq. kilometers) over the weekend

Firefighters were able to get the western and southern edges of the fire under control, preventing it from crossing the 3.5 miles (6 kilometers) to the nearest residential area of Sterling.

Alaska Division of Forestry Public Information Officer Celeste Prescott said firefighters are focusing on those two perimeters while coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the fire for ecological benefits to the forest.

“They’re going to go and put their hands along the ground and make sure there’s no smoke, no heat, nothing,” she said. “We’re making really good progress on that.”

There are about 118 firefighters working on the blaze, including four crews that came from other areas of the state, the Peninsula Clarion reported (http://bit.ly/2rw8Wjr ).

The Alaska Division of Forestry, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Kenai Peninsula Borough planned to host a meeting Monday at the Sterling Community Center to update the public on current fire activity and management strategies, according to a Sunday release from the Division of Forestry.

All contents © copyright 2017 Associated Press. All rights reserved.