Cecil

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The Cecil Fire (#315) was detected on Friday, June 26, 2026. It is located in the Yukon-Koyukuk area of Alaska, approximately 11 miles east of Ruby and 5 miles south of Ninemile Slough near Big Creek.
Size and Containment: As of the latest reports over the last 72 hours, the fire has burned 724 acres and firefighters have achieved 70% containment.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: The fire is burning in deep, thick black spruce stands, timber, hardwood litter, and grass. Thanks to consistent rainfall received shortly after its ignition, the fire has exhibited minimal behavior with smoldering and creeping, and has seen no significant recent growth. The fire has been burning away from the community of Ruby and nearby Native allotments.
Containment Efforts: A local Type 3 incident management team is in command of the fire. There are currently 67 firefighters assigned to the Cecil Fire, including the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection's (DFFP) Pioneer Peak Interagency Hotshot Crew, the Woodhawk Wildland Fire Module from Montana, and specialized smokejumpers. Crews are working in difficult and hazardous conditions due to the thick spruce stands, identifying and extinguishing interior pockets of heat and expanding control lines from the perimeter inward.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: There are currently no mandatory evacuation orders in place. The fire is not threatening the community of Ruby or nearby Native allotments.
Evacuation Warnings: There are no evacuation warnings at this time.
Curfew: No curfews are in effect.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: No shelters have been opened as no evacuations have been ordered.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• There are currently no reported road or infrastructure closures, as the fire is burning in a remote area.
• Residents and visitors are advised to avoid the immediate fire area to allow firefighters and water-scooping aircraft room to operate safely.

For more information, visit:

• Alaska Wildland Fire Information (AKFireInfo)
• Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation - Air Quality

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no reported injuries or fatalities associated with the Cecil Fire.
Structures Impacted: No structures have been damaged or destroyed. The fire is burning in a Full protection area but remains away from populated zones.
School and Business Closures: There are no reported school or business closures.
Notable Impacts: The fire is situated in a remote, forested landscape, and the primary impacts are ecological at this time.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: There are no reported power outages related to this incident.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: Due to dry conditions and high fire danger in the region, authorities advise avoiding any outdoor burning and using extreme caution with anything that can ignite a fire, as even a small spark can start a wildfire.
Air Quality: While smoke has not significantly impacted the community of Ruby, residents should stay alert to changing wind conditions. Wildfire smoke contains fine particles that can irritate the eyes and lungs, posing a particular danger to elders, young children, and individuals with heart or respiratory conditions.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: Firefighters have made excellent progress, reaching 70% containment. Crews will continue to secure the perimeter and mop up hotspots. The deep, thick black spruce stands make the work hazardous, but containment lines are holding well and crews are working to ensure interior heat does not threaten these lines.
Weather and Wind Warnings: A warming and drying trend is forecasted for the area. Temperatures are expected to climb back into the 70s, with minimum relative humidity dropping to critical levels of 25 to 30%. There is an increasing possibility of slow-moving thunderstorms that could bring heavy rain; however, if these storms miss the fire area, they could produce strong, erratic outflow wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph. Winds are otherwise expected to be northerly, shifting to southwesterly overnight.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The Cecil Fire was caused by lightning strikes from a storm system that moved through the area on June 26, 2026.
Weather and Climate: Alaska is currently experiencing its mid-summer fire season, characterized by prolific lightning storms and periodic drying trends. The lightning-caused ignition of the Cecil Fire highlights the role of these convective storm systems. Ongoing weather fluctuations, including warm temperatures, critically low humidity, and the threat of dry thunderstorms with erratic outflow winds, continue to drive fire behavior and dictate the pace of suppression efforts across the state.

For more information, visit:

• Alaska Wildland Fire Information (AKFireInfo)
• Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection
• Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation - Air Quality