St. Mary's and Pitkas Point have begun readying residents to evacuate as a nearby tundra fire continues to grow and spread towards the villages. Yute Commuter Services has sent all of its planes to St. Mary’s to help evacuate residents who opt to leave.
Two communities along the lower Yukon River have begun the process of readying residents to evacuate. A tundra fire is burning less than 8 miles from St. Mary’s, population 599, and Pitkas Point, population 120. Meanwhile, wind continues spreading the fire closer to the villages.
Beans has lived in St. Mary’s her whole life. This is the first time she’s ever heard about the village being evacuated due to a tundra fire. “We noticed a lot of people today getting their boats ready, getting gas. And bringing tents, and sleeping bags, and water, and stuff down to their boats so they’ll be ready to go out to a safer spot,” she said.“We’re doing good right now, and so far we’re not in panic mode,” she said.