McHugh fire caused by unextinguished campfire

A helicopter dumps water to fight the McHugh fire on July 20, 2016. (Photo by Wesley Early/Alaska Public Media)
A helicopter dumps water to fight the McHugh fire on July 20, 2016. (Photo by Wesley Early/Alaska Public Media)

The Department of Natural Resources has determined that an unextinguished campfire was the cause of the McHugh fire. The blaze has been raging in Chugach State Park near South Anchorage since July 16.

According to a press release sent out Thursday, the fire began in an area not commonly used by hikers and not in an established campfire ring.

The DNR announced in a release on Monday that the fire was 35 percent contained. The most recently size was 778 acres, down from a peak of 842 acres last week.

Firefighters from Alaska and the Lower 48 have worked to douse the blaze over the last two weeks.

Such escaped campfires are preventable, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The agency recommends that before leaving a campfire unattended, ensure it is fully extinguished by dousing with water, stirring and dousing again until no heat is present.

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