By SUZANNE DOWNING
Aug. 17, 2026 – A fast-moving wildfire west of Tok prompted an immediate evacuation order Monday afternoon as strong winds pushed flames through a residential area north of the Alaska Highway.
The Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management issued a wireless emergency alert at approximately 1:16 p.m. Monday directing residents in the area from Sundog Trail to Moosehorn Road to evacuate immediately.
The Level 3 “GO” evacuation area includes properties north of the Alaska Highway between Moosehorn Road and Sundog Trail. Residents in that area should leave now and should not delay to gather additional belongings.
A shelter has opened for evacuees at the Tok Dog Mushers Association Hall, 1311 Alaska Highway.
The area from Moosehorn Road and Fifth Street north along the Alaska Highway to Red Fox Drive has been placed under Level 2 “SET” status. Residents there should prepare to evacuate immediately if conditions worsen.
Sources in Tok say the fire started at a home and that several homes have burned.
The Mukluk Fire, designated Fire No. 487, was reported shortly before noon Monday in the backyard of a residence near Sundog Trail. It was initially estimated at approximately 20 acres but was described by fire officials as highly active and spreading rapidly toward the Tanana River.
Winds of approximately 20 mph were driving the fire through the Sundog and Midnight Sun area. The Alaska Highway was serving as the fire’s southern boundary as of the first official reports.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Upper Tanana Valley, including Tok, until 7 p.m. Monday because of hot, dry and windy conditions that could contribute to rapid fire growth.
Nine smokejumpers, the CATG firefighting squad, local fire departments, numerous Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection engines and a helicopter had responded by 2:25 p.m. Alaska State Troopers were also assisting with the evacuations.
Officials warned that a downed power line was actively arcing on the ground near the fire. Members of the public should avoid the affected area and stay away from all downed utility lines.
Conditions and evacuation boundaries may change quickly. Residents should follow emergency instructions and monitor the Alaska Wildland Fire Information page for updates.
3 thoughts on “GO NOW: Rapidly moving Mukluk Fire forces evacuations west of Tok”
Pray for all those involved. I was just there and have many friends with homes and businesses there.
The state of Alaska and federal governments likely need to thin out the forests on its managed lands from the interior to the Kenai. The constant wildfires is ridiculous.
Fish and game does a good job thinning put wolf and bear populations when it grows too big.
Now it’s time to start cutting timber and thinning out the forests.
And Anchorage still needs to thin out its forests through our midtown and hillside
This is bad. Vitus and Northern Energy both have good sized petroleum tank farms in that immediate area.