Sockeye Fire
| Sockeye Fire | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | June 14, 2015 – July 22, 2015 |
| Location | Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 61°50′42″N 150°05′10″W / 61.845°N 150.086°W |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 7,220 acres (29 km2) |
| Impacts | |
| Non-fatal injuries | 4 |
| Structures destroyed | 55 Residences destroyed |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Residents burning on their property without proper safety precautions |
| Map | |
The Sockeye Fire was a 2015 wildfire that occurred near Willow, in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Alaska. By the time the fire was contained, 7,220 acres (29 km2) of land had burned. The fire received its name because its origin was traced to Sockeye Avenue, in Willow. The fire forced the closure of the George Parks Highway near the fire, closing the primary road link between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents and visitors between Milepost 69 and 77 of the highway. Authorities urged the residents of Willow to evacuate, utilizing the Emergency Alert System throughout the afternoon of June 14 as the fire spread and intensified. Alaska Governor Bill Walker declared a state of emergency for the area on June 15. Authorities requested help from fire crews throughout Alaska, as well as from emergency agencies in the contiguous United States. The Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska's largest, sent a task force of personnel and emergency vehicles.