Wildfire partially contained near Tok, Alaska, as governor issues disaster declaration

A wildfire burning near Tok, Alaska, is partially contained, according to state wildfire officials on Wednesday.

But efforts continue to protect the community after several structures were lost to the fire earlier this week, and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has issued a disaster declaration for the region. This automatically triggers relief funding for public infrastructure repairs and for individuals affected by the fire.

The Mukluk fire is estimated at about 2,000 hectares and is burning approximately 100 kilometres from the Yukon border.

An update from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection on Wednesday said the fire was 16 per cent contained, with the secured portion of the fire in the community of Tok.

It said 167 personnel were fighting the fire and evacuations remain in place for some areas of Tok, which has a population of around 1,500 people.

Karen Webster of Anchorage recalls arriving in Tok on Monday night with a group of Belgian motorcyclists, only to find the community partially emptied out.

"We were heading off the Denali Highway and into Tok for our nightly stay before heading into Canada and noticed the smoke plume," she recalled.

"We got to the motel and there was nobody there."

Residents at a community meeting in Tok on Tuesday heard that crews and firefighting aircraft were being sent from the Yukon to help. Yukon's Department of Community Services told CBC News that four crews are heading west, along with a division supervisor and an agency representative.

The forecast for Tok is calling for cooler temperatures and possible showers in the days ahead, with potential thunderstorms also in the forecast for Friday night.