Partnerships and Planning contribute to successful suppression of the 2024 Riley Fire in Denali National Park and Preserve

Smoke from the Riley Fire visible in the Nenana River Canyon, just outside Denali National Park & Preserve.

Sarah Stehn, NPS

On June 30, 2024, the Riley Fire was reported on Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) lands about one mile north of the park entrance, in the Nenana River canyon. Due to the extremely dry conditions, the fire grew quickly, burning in spruce, alder, and birch on the steep terrain near the Alaska Railroad. That same day, evacuation notices were issued by the Denali Borough and Denali, and an evacuation information center was set up at the Tri-Valley Community Center in Healy. The park was temporarily closed a park and partner employees residing in some housing areas near the park entrance were evacuated because of the threat.

A local crew digs line on the Riley Fire

Bradley Hagstrom, NPS

Due to the fire’s proximity to infrastructure within Denali, multi-million-dollar visitor infrastructure in the Nenana River Canyon, power loss, and the evacuations that were in place; a Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) was ordered to manage the incident. At its peak, the Riley Fire was staffed by as many as 240 personnel and burned 436 acres. The initial attack efforts of local and aerial resources held the fast-moving fire while additional crews and smokejumpers mobilized to the fire. Those providing assistance included the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tanana Fire Management Zone, the Tanana Chief Fire Crew, 22 BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the McKinley Village Volunteer Fire Department, four interagency hotshot crews from the Lower 48, Alta, Mill Creek, Smith River, and Golden Eagles, as well as aerial resources including four helicopters, and many local crews including NPS's Western Area Fire Management team.

Fire staff gather for a morning briefing at the Riley Fire.

Keith Mitchell, NPS

This was not the first time that fire burned in the front country of the park; the Riley Fire started almost exactly 100 years after a major fire that began in the summer of 1924. During the 1924 fire, then superintendent Harry Karstens and his small staff successfully defended the park headquarters from the fire, and rain in late July eventually extinguished the fire that had by that point burned an estimated 35 square miles.

During the 2024 Riley Fire, recent fire simulation planning done by the park, Denali Borough, and other partners in May 2024 was used by the Alaska CIMT. The collaboration and communication already established by partners in Denali created a positive working situation for a complex fire.

An NPS-AK Wildland Fire truck in Denali National Park & Preserve during the Riley Fire.

Lexie Regetz, NPS

During the 2024 Riley Fire, recent fire simulation planning done by the park, Denali Borough, and other partners in May 2024 was utilized by the Alaska Complex Incident Management Team. The collaboration and communication already established by partners in Denali created a positive working situation for a complex fire.

Thanks to assistance from both local and out of state partners, fire protection agencies, and advance planning for this type of scenario, the park was back to regular operations only 11 days after ignition, with minimal impact to park resources. On Wednesday, July 10, the National Park Service and Denali National Park Tours Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture welcomed visitors back to the park and normal park operations resumed.

A BAER Team assesses the aftermath of the Riley Fire.

Katie Asselin, USFS

Once the fire suppression and suppression repair efforts came to an end, a small Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team responded to assess the potential fire impacts to cultural resources, spread of invasive plants, burn severity, and slope stabilization. Over the next 4-5 years, work will continue to assess the fire effects on the landscape and on resources in the area.