Alaska fire burns home, scorches 15,000 acres

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Embers from a burn barrel ignited a fire that spread to 15,000 acres Friday, burning at least one home and forcing people to evacuate residences along a 13-mile stretch of highway, officials said.

Strong winds pushed the flames along the Parks Highway toward the city of Nenana, a river and rail transportation hub of 550 people about 55 miles southwest of Fairbanks. The fire has burned an area about 10 miles long and a mile wide, Yuhas said.

All the homes along the stretch of highway were evacuated Thursday night, and aircraft were dropping fire retardant on the blaze, said Pete Buist, fire information officer for the Alaska Division of Forestry. The fire started Wednesday at a home near Anderson, and wind gusting up to 25 mph spread it north.