ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A large fire burning in the tundra of southwest Alaska continued to move toward an Alaska Native village on Saturday, but fire managers said its pace had slowed.
The East Fork fire, which was started by lightning May 31, remained about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the Yup’ik village of St. Mary’s, a statement from the Alaska Wildland Fire Information said.
The fire was listed at 169 square miles (438 square kilometers) in size, more than double the last estimate. The increase was attributed to better mapping.
Tundra is a treeless area covered with low-lying plants, and the fire was being fed by extremely dry grass and brush filled with alders and willow.