Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
Interior Dry Spell Continues
The Interior dry spell continues. National Weather Service Climate Science Manager Rick Thoman says it hasn’t rained much at the official recording station at Fairbanks airport, since July 20.
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Construction Begins On Fairbanks Youth Homeless Shelter
Construction of a youth homeless shelter is underway in downtown Fairbanks. The emergency shelter called “The Door” is the long in works project of local non-profit Fairbanks Youth Advocates.
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Moon Lake Wildfire Grows To 24,000 Acres
The Moon Lake wildfire in the eastern Interior made a large run Wednesday. The Alaska Division of Forestry reports that the fire 24 miles west of Tok, gained 3,200 acres along its northern perimeter. It’s now consumed over 24,000 acres. Ninety-three people are working the wildfire, which started by lightning back in late June. The nearby Tetlin Ridge and Billy Creek fires also grew Wednesday, as hot dry conditions and southeast winds fueled flames.
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State Issues Best Interest Finding On LNG Gas Line Right-Of-Way Application
The state has issued a best interest finding on a right of way lease application for a gas line to feed a North Slope LNG plant. The Department of Natural Resources Commissioner’s analysis and proposed decision is for Spectrum Energy’s 1,100 foot gas line. The public can weigh in on the lease proposal until Sept. 3.
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Wildfires Growing In Interior’s Dry, Windy Weather
Hot dry windy weather has caused growth of three big Interior wildfires. The Crater Lake fire, near the Yukon Flats village of Venetie, swelled by more than 850 acres. The human caused fire has burned more than 1,500 acres since it started on Sunday.
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‘Alaska Tracks’ Shares Tales Hunters, Trappers and Fishermen
A new book explores the life many come to Alaska for, but few live out. Alaska Tracks shares the tales of hunters, fishermen and trappers.
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Imaging Project Targets UA Museum Bones
Scientists from Idaho State University are at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks taking high-resolution images of animal bones. It’s part of a National Science Foundation funded project to create an on-line catalogue of bones of every Arctic bird, fish, and mammal.
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Historic Gold Dredge Burns Near Fairbanks
Fairbanks is mourning the loss of a piece of mining history. Gold Dredge #3, off the Steese Highway in Chatanika, burned Saturday.
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Long Creek Fire Halted At 84 Acres
The Long Creek Fire near mile 47 started Saturday afternoon. Alaska Division of Forestry spokesman Jim Schwarber says air tankers spotted the smoke while en route to the Gold Dredge fire.
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Stuart Creek 2 Fire Ramps Up
Hot, dry, windy weather has operations ramping back up on the Stuart creek wildfire east of Fairbanks.
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Flood Water In Effect For Upper Tanana River Area
A flood watch is in effect for rivers feeding the upper Tanana River in the eastern interior.
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Fairbanks Hits 31st Day Over 80 Degrees This Summer
Thursday marked the 31st day this summer that it hit or surpassed 80 degrees in Fairbanks breaking a record set in 2004.
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Study Finds Increasing Wildfire Frequency
A new study finds evidence of increasing wildfire frequency. University of Illinois Ph.D. candidate Ryan Kelly’s project analyzed drill cores from the bottom of lakes in the Yukon Flats. The cores provide a record of sediment accumulation dating back 10,000 years, including charcoal particles deposited by wildfires.
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Fairbanks Residents Speak Out On LNG Service Applications
Fairbanks residents turned out strongly earlier this week to speak out on natural gas service applications. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska held a hearing as part its review of applications from Fairbanks Natural Gas and the borough’s Interior Gas Utility.
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Fairbanks Borough Weighs In On Redistricting
The Fairbanks North Star Borough assembly will maintain amicus status in a drawn out suit challenging the Alaska Redistricting Board voter maps.
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2 Fort Wainwright Soldiers Die In Water-Related Accidents Over Weekend
It was a deadly weekend for soldiers. Officials say Fort Wainwright soldier died in when a jet boat lost power on the Klutina River and capsized, and another drowned while swimming at the Chena Lakes Recreation area.
Fairbanks Registers 12th Day Above 85 Degrees
It got up to 88 degrees in Fairbanks on Sunday, the 12th day this summer it’s crested 85 – an all time record.
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Settlement Expected In Fairbanks Wood Boiler Case
Resolution of the Straughn wood boiler case in Fairbanks appears imminent. The state Department of Environmental Conservation sued Fairbanks residents Andrew and Gloria Straughn for creating a public nuisance by operating two wood fired boilers that smoked out neighbors, including students and staff at Wood River Elementary school.
State Offers Large Tok-Area Timber Sale
The state is offering a large timber sale in the Tok area. The 25-year, Division of Forestry contract is for harvest of even hundred to nine hundred acres a year of primarily smaller-diameter Black and White Spruce.
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Study Says Proposed Livengold Mine Would Lose Money
The proposed Livengood Mining project would not break even at current gold prices. A feasibility study released by project developer International Tower Hill Mines shows profitable operation of the gold mine north of Fairbanks would require prices higher than $1,500 an ounce. Gold is currently selling in the 13 hundred dollar an ounce range, more than 500 dollars below its 2011 peak.
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