In part one of the Minto Lakes Incident Base series, we begin our look at operations for a wildland fire base.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - The Minto Lakes Fire began on June 21, 2022 and has since grown to over 37,000 acres. The blaze lies 32 miles northwest of Fairbanks; but the incident base, which is the temporary home of overt 100 fire fighters, is merely minutes away from city limits at Pearl Creek Elementary School.
At the incident base the logistics unit oversees all operations for the large response. According to Dan Turner, the Logistics Section Chief for the Type 1 management team, his unit “takes care of all the needs of all the folks that come to the fire.” This includes communications, medical needs, transportation and more.
Along with coordinating efforts between the units, logistics is also in charge of making sure the firefighters out in the field are able to live and operate in their assigned area. As Turner put it, “[they] take care of making sure everybody has a place to live, camp out, work in offices,” and make they have the supplies needed to combat the blaze.
When it came time to finding a location for the incident base, the team toured various sites and analyzed the ability to reach the fire, manage materials, and provide adequate work and living facilities. Eventually they decided on Pearl Creek Elementary School and entered into a land use agreement with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
According to personnel at the incident base, the site has worked well for operations, and will remain as the incident base until the fire is contained.