A fast-moving wildland fire north of Willow forced the evacuation of residents and closed the Parks Highway on Sunday.

As of late Sunday evening, the Sockeye Fire was estimated at 6,500 acres and was burning on both sides of the Parks Highway, running due south. The fire was in the Crystal Lakes Road subdivision as of midnight.

One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

The voluntary evacuation area extends from milepost 63 to milepost 78 of the Parks Highway. Between that stretch of highway the evacuation area stretches west to the Susitna River and two miles east of the Parks Highway. Some 1700 residential structures are in the evacuation area.

The Parks Highway will be opened as firefighting and public safety allow. Expect periodic closures over the next few days and pilot cars guiding traffic through.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is handling evacuation procedures. Information regarding evacuations is available through the Borough emergency operations center at (907) 761-3700.
The Borough is holding a press conference at noon at the Borough Assembly Chambers at 350 E. Dahlia in Palmer.

Some 210 residents signed in at the evacuation centers in Houston, near Talkeetna, and at Wasilla Fish Hook Bible Camp. Shelters are at Houston Middle School at mile 53 on the Parks Highway, and the Upper Susitna Senior Center at mile 99 on the Parks Highway.

The fire was reported as a 2-acre fire on the west side of the Parks Highway on West Sockeye Avenue at 1:15 p.m. and quickly grew despite aggressive action taken by the Alaska Division of Forestry and Borough responders. Multiple aircraft were dispatched to the fire to drop retardant and water on the fire. State Forestry firefighters from Palmer also responded. Three initial attack fire crews were dispatched to the fire from Palmer, Kenai and Fairbanks. Close to 200 emergency personnel from multiple agencies are responding to the incident.

Additional fire resources are en route. Five hotshot crews from the Lower 48 have been ordered for the fire and are expected to arrive today. Fire managers expected the fire to calm down overnight but continue to spread before picking up again on Monday.

The fire is more than 500 acres,

The Willow Fire has the official name of Sockeye Fire. The fire is more than 500 acres, possibly up to 1,000 acres, Forestry reports. Smoke is obscuring the estimate.
Voluntary evacuation is requested for Willow residents from mile 77 of the Parks Highway to the community of Willow on both sides of the highway, reports Mat-Su Borough Emergency Manager Casey Cook.

1 structure has been reported lost, possibly up to five structures could be lost according to Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director Bill Gamble.
Red Flag conditions and wind are an obstacle to fire suppression. An emergency number for information is 861-8500. Watch Borough website, facebook, and DNR facebook and website for updates.

Heavy use of fire protection apparatus is underway.

• Forestry and the Mat-Su Borough are operating under a unified command
• All Borough firefighters were paged to the scene
• The National Guard is assisting with three blackhawks.
• Four Alaska crews are routed to scene.
• 5 helicopters
• A Type II emergency response team is being assembled.
• 5 Hot Shot crews from the Lower 48 have been ordered.
• Anchorage is sending two engines, Chugiak Fire is assisting

Red Cross is operating the evacuation center at the Willow Community Center.
Willow is a dog mushing community. Animal Care has a trailer with dog kennels stationed at the Willow Community Center.

Residents have been cooperating with authorities. Earlier Troopers reported evacuation notices had been delivered to residences from mile 72 to 77 mile of the Parks Highway. Unknown how many homes this affects. The first evacuation notice was for about 10 homes on Sockeye Ave. However, the fire has grown due to winds and heat and the area was expanded south to the subdivisions off of Sharen Drive and North Dell M Road.

The road is closed from Willow Fishhook north to Sockeye Avenue. There are troopers set up at road stations at these two points. 

The Parks Highway has low visibility near the fire and traffic is backed up. Only emergency personnel are being let through. Please do not drive on the Parks Highway near Willow.

Residents from about 10 homes off Whilloby Ave. in Sutton have voluntarily evacuated due to the nearby fire, more homes are at risk, according to the Alaska State Troopers. Troopers reported to have shut down the Parks Highway at mile 77. Capital Speedway has fire spotting. Please do not travel the Parks Highway near Sutton today.
The 80-acre fire has jumped Whilloby Avenue and most recently the Parks Highway as reported by Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services Director Bill Gamble. All Borough fire responders have been called to the scene. Sutton is a dog mushing community. Pet evacuation is in demand.

• The Sutton Community Center is the evacuation center. 
• Borough and Forestry responders are fighting the blaze. 
• Forestry reports two tankers and a helicopter working the fire. 
• Two water scooping fire boss aircraft from Fairbanks are routed. 
• A helicopter from Kenai was routed. 
• The White Mountain and Kenai fire crews are diverted to the scene. 

The fire is under investigation, no cause identified yet, Forestry reports. Please do not travel the Parks Highway today.

Forestry, Troopers, and DNR, and the Borough are working to get you information on facebook and traditional web.