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Vol. 49, Issue 272
In the news
Deadline looms to register to vote Here’s where to go to make your voice heard in municipal elections Oct. 1. Sunday, Sept. 1 is the deadline to register to vote in municipal elections. Absentee ballots can be submitted in person from Sept. 16 through Election Day, Oct. 1 at the following locations: The Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk’s Office at 144 N. Binkley St. in Soldotna from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex Office at 638 E. Pioneer Ave in Homer from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Homer City Clerk’s Office at 491 E. Pioneer Ave. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Kenai City Clerk’s Office at 210 Fidalgo Ave. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Seldovia City Clerk’s Office at 235 Dock St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Seward City Clerk’s Office at 410 Adams St. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Election Day is Oct. 1, and polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit https://myvoterinformation.alaska.gov to find your nearest polling location, and visit the Kenai Peninsula Borough website for more information on the upcoming municipal elections.
correction A Sunday, Aug. 25 article published in the Clarion incorrectly stated that Industry Appreciation Day was organized by the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District and the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. Industry Appreciation Day is organized by a committee of volunteers representing the different industries present at the event as well as the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce.
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Florida preps for hurricane landfall
Soldotna volleyball sweeps Bulldogs
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Borough declares drought disaster Seldovia’s water source nearly depleted; Nanwalek will be out by today. By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Peninsula Borough issued a local disaster declaration Thursday on behalf of the City of Seldovia and Native Village of Nanwalek, which have both been experiencing water
shortages due to drought conditions on the peninsula. The communities of Chignik Lagoon, Chignik Lake and Tatilek are also reporting water shortages and boil water advisories. Nanwalek, which has been taking steps to conserve water and is relying on a
rapidly diminishing bottled water supply, will be out of water by Friday, according to the declaration. The Nanwalek IRA Council declared a State of Emergency due to the impending lack of water for the community on Tuesday. Nanwalek faces water shortages every summer, however, due to the hot and dry summer, water is running out, tribal administrator’s
assistant Katrina Berestoff said. The shortages have prompted the community to shut off water for 12 hours at a time at night, delaying school breakfasts at Nanwalek School. Berestoff said the community received four pallets of water, with three cases of water for each household, with the help of Chugachmiut Corporation, North
Pacific Rim Housing Authority and Chugach Alaska Corporation. Berestoff said the community’s water supply depends on snow every winter. “When it melts out too fast we kind of get a good idea that we will run out in the summer, especially if we are in a drought,” Berestoff said. Seldovia’s council passed See drought, Page A2
Crews continue to battle Swan Lake Fire By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
The Swan Lake Fire showed little growth overnight Wednesday, but heavy smoke continued to affect operations Thursday. Helicopters were unable to fly on the eastern flank of the fire in the Resurrection Trail area Thursday, but an unmanned drone was used to assess the effectiveness of burnout operations in the south central area of the fire above Skilak Lake, according to a Thursday afternoon update from the Office of Emergency Management. As of Thursday morning, the fire measured 161,921 acres. The incident management team reported Thursday that an additional strike team consisting of four engines and a hotshot crew were slated to work from 10 a.m. to midnight around Cooper Landing to bolster available resources during the hours when fire growth has been most active. They will join other crews in the area to reduce hazardous fuels around structures, install water sprinklers and protect the power line corridor. The most active portion of the fire on Wednesday was located on the eastern flank in the Juneau Creek drainage. The fire slowly moved downslope to the south as well as up-valley to the north on the Resurrection Trail. According to the update, this growth does not present immediate
Alaska Wildland Fire Information
The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday on the Kenai Peninsula.
concern for Cooper Landing, but fire managers are evaluating strategies that will limit further spread. Thursday, three crews hiked up the drainage to begin constructing new containment lines. Cooper Landing remained in a “SET” status as of
Thursday evening due to the proximity of the fire. All residents should be fully prepared to evacuate if the situation warrants. Residents who are uncomfortable or feel they need more time should consider leaving before an evacuation notice. Cooper Landing School will
Public lands around fire closed
The closures are due to health and safety concerns related to the Swan Lake Fire. By Brian Mazurek Peninsula Clarion
Continued wildfire activity has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service to issue emergency area closures for portions of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Seward Ranger District of the Chugach National Forest. Closures for the Chugach National Forest include: all National Forest Service (NFS) lands and facilities south of American Creek to its intersection with the Resurrection Pass Trail, all NFS lands west of Resurrection Pass Trail to Devil’s Creek Trail, all NFS lands west of Quartz Creek and north of the Sterling Highway to the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge/
National Forest boundary and all NFS lands east of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Boundary to American Creek. On the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, closures include: all public use facilities within Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area, all refuge lands, trails and facilities adjacent to the Sterling Highway from the eastern boundary of the refuge at Mile 55 to the western boundary of the refuge at Mile 76 and the Sportsman’s Boat Launch Facility. More details about the refuge closures as well as a map showing the areas affected can be found at https://www.fws.gov/ refuge/kenai/. More details about the closures in Chugach National Forest can be found at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/ chugach/alerts-notices. The closures are due to concern for public health and safety related to the Swan Lake Fire, which
has been burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge for 85 days and is currently at 161,921 acres. The closures will be in effect through Sept. 27, but may be rescinded or extended as conditions change. According to the news release from USFWS, dangerous conditions within the burned area can cause serious injury. Deep ash pits can form in burned organic layers — also known as “duff” — and can stay hot under the surface while blending in visually. Stepping into an ash pit can cause serious burns. In addition, burned trees have lost their root systems, leaving them weak and likely to fall down even in light winds. Falling trees can change trail access and create challenging hiking conditions where trails were easily accessible in the past. The open-fire burn restriction remains in effect and includes warming and cooking fires.
be closed until Tuesday, Sept. 3 at the earliest, according to a Wednesday night update from the borough school district. The southwestern corner of the fire near Sterling experienced increased activity inside the containment lines. Work continued on Thursday
to cool the area and further secure the perimeter by extinguishing any remaining burning or smoldering fuels adjacent to the containment lines. Structure protection on the western flank is effectively in place, and the fire has not spread past the containment line since it was established. The Sterling neighborhoods east of Feuding Lane and east of Adkins Road remain in a “READY” status. A “READY” notification means that residents should actively prepare for a potential evacuation should the threat level increase. A high-pressure system will remain on top of the fire for the next day, leading to light winds, warm temperatures and low humidity. A low-pressure storm system is approaching from the southwest that is expected to bring some precipitation Friday and Saturday night. Incident Meteorologist Jeff Tonkin said during the community meeting in Cooper Landing Wednesday night that he expects about half an inch of rain on Friday night and another half an inch on Saturday night. Gusty winds are predicted for Sunday afternoon. Fire suppression activities and dense smoke conditions have made travel on the Sterling Highway between Sterling and Cooper Landing hazardous, and authorities are discouraging travel on that part of the highway. Those who choose to travel See fire, Page A2
Assembly extends fire declaration by 45 days By Victoria Petersen Peninsula Clarion
The Kenai Peninsula emergency declaration regarding several wildfires burning on the peninsula was extended at a special Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting Thursday afternoon. A resolution to extend the disaster declaration, which was only in effect until Aug. 28, was passed unanimously by the assembly. The disaster declaration is now extended for 45 more days, to allow for more complete response, the resolution said. “The declaration seeks state assistance as the borough has expended significant resources relating to the response to these fires in coordinating with the state of Alaska,” the resolution said. The assembly also
addressed an emergency ordinance at their special assembly meeting that appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to be used for the response to the wildfires. The ordinance passed the assembly unanimously, and state’s the money is needed to provide funding for the borough’s ongoing efforts in response to the fires and assessments of damages. “The assembly finds that an emergency exists due to current fire-related conditions, including firefighting support, preparations and communications with the public due to road closures, evacuation preparedness and notifications, temporary housing, smoky air threatening public health and the continued threat to persons and property from these conditions,” the ordinance said.