A 1.6-acre wildland fire in Ninilchik was reported over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the AK Wildland Fires, Fire Information Map. The human-caused fire was contained as of May 26. According to updates posted by Western Emergency Services on Facebook, WES responded May 24 at 7:33 p.m. near the area of Cottonwood Avenue in Ninilchik to a report of a small brush fire that was spreading. A U.S. Forest Service helitack crew confirmed a 0.5-acre fire burning in mostly grass backed by a white spruce stand and which could only be accessed by air, a utility-terrain vehicle, a four-wheeler or by foot. The helitack performed bucket drops on the fire while borough resources and forestry personnel engaged the fire from the ground. According to WES, the fire was contained by 9:13 p.m. and declared controlled by 10:28 p.m. Forestry personnel checked the status of the fire and โcalled the fire outโ at 2:38 p.m. on May 30, according to AK Wildland Fire Information.
