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Wildfire Forces Evacuations At Denali National Park, Closes Park

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Published Date

July 1, 2024

The Riley Fire as seen from the Nenana River Canyon business area near the Denali National Park entrance/NPS

A wildfire burning just inside the north entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve has forced evacuations of the Riley Creek Campground there and prompted closure Monday of all visitor facilities and park operations in the entrance area.

The Riley Fire was spotted Sunday afternoon a mile north of the park entrance and west of milepost 239 on the Parks Highway in the northeastern corner of Denali. It was burning in a black spruce forest in steep terrain near the Alaska Railroad.

Initially a dozen smokejumpers were deployed to the fire via airplane and an additional load of 10 smokejumpers traveled to the fire via ground transport. Four Fire Bosses, which are water-scooping aircraft, were called in, along with two water scoopers and one retardant air tanker.

By Sunday evening the fire was estimated at 350 acres.

A park release said the park will remain closed to personal vehicles and day use visitors until further notice. Employees evacuated from park housing were being sheltered in various facilities in the nearby town of Healy. 

Smokejumpers arriving on the Riley Fire/NPS

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