Alaskan Tour Guides

Alaskan Tour Guides

Denali – Riley Creek Fire – ATG News Update

FINAL RILEY FIRE UPDATE, MONDAY, JULY 8TH, 2024:

432 acres, 96% contained, 244 personnel
Park Buses and Alaska Railroad resuming normal services.

RILEY FIRE UPDATE, SUNDAY, JULY 7, 2024

388 acres, 31% contained, 225 personnel
There is more containment line again today on the Riley Fire — now at 31%. The park is still set to reopen to visitors on July 10th, and the Alaska Railroad will offer modified passenger service until the Denali Train Depot reopens.

RILEY WILDLAND FIRE – JULY 6 – 5:30 PM

Great news! The Riley Wildland Fire is 25% contained and firefighters are making progress. Most businesses and tours near Denali National Park are open. The park will reopen to visitors on July 10th, and the Alaska Railroad will offer modified passenger service until the Denali Train Depot reopens and then will resume regular service.

RILEY WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE – JULY 5

Firefighters are making steady progress on the Riley Fire, with containment holding at 5%. Multiple crews are actively working to establish firelines and utilize indirect strategies to contain the fire. Businesses in Nenana River Canyon are beginning to reopen as power is restored. While Denali National Park and Preserve remains temporarily closed, crews are optimistic about the progress made and remain committed to fully containing the fire.

RILEY WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE – JULY 4 – 8:00 PM

With power now restored, most businesses and tours located outside of Denali National Park, including the Canyon Clinic, are open and operational with regular business hours.

RILEY WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE – JULY 4 – 10:00am

 “Power for the Nenana Canyon / Glitter Gulch area will return to normal operation with power maintained throughout the day. Thanks to the hard work of the fire crews, the Riley Fire has moved far enough away from GVEA’s facilities that it is safe to restore power and maintain the safety of those working on fire suppression efforts.

An assessment of the Riley Fire has been completed and the containment description has been updated to 5%. This does not indicate that the fire has increased, fire containment is expressed as a percentage of a wildfire’s perimeter that has been surrounded by a barrier or control line. While there has been a substantial area of saw line completed, it is not considered contained until fire crews are confident that the fire will not breach that line. Fire crews will continue their efforts from the air and from the ground on Thursday with the priority being to expand the control line around the fire perimeter.

What is affected:

  • Park services: Currently closed.
  • Power: Has resumed full service.
  • Alaska Railroad: Operating on a modified schedule.
  • Other businesses and tours located outside of the park remain open and operational.

Important information for Alaskan Tour Guides travelers:

We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular updates on our Facebook page. Please check there for the latest information.

There is no immediate danger to any of our travelers. However, we may need to make some minor adjustments to our tour itineraries over the next few days. Rest assured, Alaskan Tour Guides always has a Plan B in place. Any activities affected by the fire will either be rescheduled or replaced with comparable experiences. Refunds will be provided for any activities that cannot be offered.

We understand you may have questions, but please refrain from calling our offices at this time. We are working diligently to address the situation and keep our travelers informed. Thank you for your understanding and

RILEY WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE – JULY 3 – 8:45pm

The Riley Fire in Denali National Park and Preserve remains 25% contained Wednesday evening and has burned an estimated 388 acres. As of early Wednesday, two additional helicopters have been deployed to assist fire crews, bringing the total to four. An additional wildland fire crew has joined efforts on the ground with two interagency hotshot crews already engaged on the incident, and a strike team of engines has been added in efforts to secure both flanks. There are over 160 fire personnel currently assigned to the Riley Fire and we are grateful for every one of them.

What this means for your tour:

  • Park services: Currently closed.
  • Power: Shut off during daytime firefighting operations, restored in the evenings.
  • Alaska Railroad: Operating on a modified schedule.
  • Other businesses and tours located outside of the park remain open and operational.

Important information for Alaskan Tour Guides travelers:

We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide regular updates on our Facebook page. Please check there for the latest information.

There is no immediate danger to any of our travelers. However, we may need to make some minor adjustments to our tour itineraries over the next few days. Rest assured, Alaskan Tour Guides always has a Plan B in place. Any activities affected by the fire will either be rescheduled or replaced with comparable experiences. Refunds will be provided for any activities that cannot be offered.

We understand you may have questions, but please refrain from calling our offices at this time. We are working diligently to address the situation and keep our travelers informed. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.