The 40,000-acre Hog Butte Fire burning about 30 miles southwest of Lake Michumina and several fires in Southwest Alaska have produced the bulk of the smoke blanketing much of Alaska. The Hog Butte Fire is one of eight staffed in Alaska. The BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots and four smokejumpers are working to protect Native allotments and permitted cabins from the Hog Butte Fire burning along the North Fork of the Kuskoswim River 30 miles southeast Lake Michumina in Central Interior Alaska. This lightning-caused fire started on June 5 and is burning in a limited management option area, which allows the fire to function in its natural ecological role as long as it’s not threatening any nearby sites of value.