The Loon Lake Fire burning about 10 miles northeast of Sterling is now 70% contained, the Alaska Division of Forestry reported Thursday.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks Type 2 hand crew was slated to join firefighting efforts on Thursday and replace the Pioneer Peak crew, which will be relocated to McGrath to assist with other fires. More than 80 fire personnel have responded to the Loon Like Fire, with 62 personnel working on the fire as of Thursday morning.

The Nanooks crew will work on the section of fireline that the other crews finished yesterday, with a focus on cutting open pockets of heat in black spruce inside the fire perimeter, the Division of Forestry said.

Though rain fell on the fire area on Wednesday, a helicopter with a long line and a water bucket is available to assist with extinguishing fire flare ups inside the fire perimeter.

The 102-acre fire was first reported on Saturday evening and is the result of lightning. The fire is close to where the 2019 Swan Lake Fire originated.

A 3-mile Temporary Flight Restriction remains in place to keep the skies clear for aircraft responding to the fire, as does a burn suspension for the Kenai Peninsula.

More information about the Loon Lake Fire can be found at akfireinfo.com.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.