A wildfire that quickly grew to about 350 acres is threatening the entrance to Denali National Park on the Parks Highway and has forced the evacuation of several hundred people.
The blaze — named the Riley Fire — began burning shortly after noon on Sunday and by 5:30 p.m. was reported at around 350 acres in size
“The area where the fire is currently burning is up above the Nenana River in close proximity to the Horseshoe Lake Trail area,” Ollig said. “It is generally dense black spruce forest, and is right up against Mount Healy, so it does have some steep terrain that climbs pretty quickly in that area, once you’re across once you’re west of the railroad tracks.”
Other areas of the park near the fire are in “ready” mode to evacuate, Ollig said, meaning they must be ready to evacuate if the order is given. That includes campers in the Riley Creek Campground, which Ollig said is closest to the blaze.
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