Story Created:
May 27, 2010 at 12:38 PM AKDT
Story Updated:
May 27, 2010 at 12:38 PM AKDT
A wildfire burning near Tok has covered about 2,000 acres, closed the Alaska Highway 180 miles east of Fairbanks, and forced evacuation of more than 50 people from two communties.
Division of Forestry spokesman Dave Stancliff said Thursday that more firefighters and equipment are on the way to prevent the fire from spreading into Tanacross and Eagle Subdivision where families have left their homes. About a half dozen people spent Wednesday night in a shelter at Tok school.
Stancliff says the fire was spotted Wednesday by a pilot and may have been started Tuesday by lightning. It's burning trees and brush. No structures have been damaged.
More than 50 firefighters attacked the fire Wednesday. Stancliff says conditions are very dry.
