TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

TEMSCO crews work to extinguish a grass fire south of Wren Drive on Saturday after it was determined that the location was inaccessible to CCFR vehicles. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

TEMSCO assists with weekend grass fire

Cause of fire is still under investigation.

It took about 50 water buckets containing 240 gallons of water each to extinguish a Saturday afternoon grass fire, according to Eric Main, base manager for Timber, Exploration, Mining, Survey, Cargo Operations base manager.

Main said in a Monday interview that two of the company’s tour helicopters were the first to see the fire located south of Wren Drive and east of Montana Creek Bridge, which was then called in to Main, who then contacted Juneau Police Department and Capital City Fire/Rescue.

“I told CCFR we could assist just because it was in an area that they would have had a hard time accessing from the ground, which is what we determined, they wouldn’t be able to access it with vehicles where the fire was. So, (CCFR Assistant Chief) Ed Quinto told us to go ahead and launch a helicopter for fire suppression.”

A TEMSCO helicopter flies above neighborhood near River Road Trail on Saturday as crews assisted with extinguishing a grass fire east of Montana Creek Bridge. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

A TEMSCO helicopter flies above neighborhood near River Road Trail on Saturday as crews assisted with extinguishing a grass fire east of Montana Creek Bridge. (Courtesy Photo / CCFR Facebook)

Main was the pilot responsible for extinguishing grass fire, which he said took roughly two hours. When the fire was first reported, it was first at 300 feet in diameter and by the time Main had finished extinguishing the flames, he estimated the fire had burned three to four acres. Main said for Southeast Alaska, it was a “relatively fast-moving fire.”

Additionally, Main said that no structures or property were burned in the process, only muskeg with grass, alders and spruce trees. Main also said that it’s been about three years since the last time TEMSCO was called in to assist with fire suppression. That fire was at Eagle Beach.

[Forest Service responds to wildland fire across from Eagle Beach]

“It’s pretty infrequent that we deal with that in Southeast Alaska as far as assisting CCFR because normally they can get to a lot of stuff within the city and borough and outside of that it usually falls to the forest service who have wildland crews,” Main said. “We have multiple helicopters that work for Government agencies that are contracted to do that specifically, but it’s pretty infrequent, however, we are capable and ready when it does happen.”

CCFR thanked TEMSCO in a Facebook post for “helping the community when needed.” The cause of the fire at this time is still undetermined.

• Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Large cracks in the Mendenhall Glacier are observed by U.S. Forest Service officials on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service photo)
‘A substantial portion of the Mendenhall Glacier is expected to collapse at any time’

Warning issued Tuesday morning by U.S. Forest Service after recent calving, large crack spotted.

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau on Aug. 6, 2024. The flood was from an outburst at Suicide Basin, part of the Mendenhall Glacier complex. A similar glacial outburst flood struck the same area in 2023. (Image courtesy of Rich Ross)
Bill would establish Alaska alternative to federal flood insurance program

The Alaska Legislature is considering a bill that would create a new… Continue reading

A girl uses her cellphone at Bronx High School of Science in New York on Jan. 11, 2016. (Yana Paskova for The New York Times)
Juneau School District seeks feedback from community on cellphone policy

The conversation rises from cellphone bans happening nationally and at the state level.

Juneau International Airport is getting new leadership in its administration and board of directors. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly names two new airport board members in shakeup after budget stalemate

Angela Rodell and David Epstein, both former members, to get quick start at seeking solution this week.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Blank posts are seen where the two totem poles once stood at the Fred Meyer main entrance on Feb. 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Fred Meyer totem poles get a second chance at life

Tlingit master carver says they will be refurbished with tribal youth and repurposed.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read