Wildfires Update

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Steve Brawn
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Jul 27, 2009 at 10:59 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2009 at 11:28 AM AKDT

Alaska's already worse then average fire season is not getting a helping hand from mother nature. Another day of warm, dry temperatures and high winds in the interior increased fire activity yesterday. To date nearly two million acres have been scorched this season alone.

12 of the 73 fires buring across Alaska are being fought. The largest fire, the Railbelt Complex, has grown to nearly 350,000 acres and has a crew of 235 people working to smother the flames.

Today, a 747 aircraft converted to be a fire fighting tanker will demonstrate its abilities by dropping retardant on the flames. The plane hasa capacity ten times greater than that of the current largest tanker planes in Alaska's fleet. The 747-100 is owned by Evergreen International Aviation based out of McMinnville, OR.