Shanta Creek Wildfire

More than 13,000 acres (53 km2; 20 sq mi) were burned and over 400 personnel were involved in the firefighting effort.

[1] During the late 1990s, the Kenai Peninsula was infested by spruce bark beetles.

Southcentral Alaska had been experiencing an unusually warm, dry summer that contributed to optimal conditions for a fire.

[4] The fire was monitored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge, and was allowed to grow unchecked to over 4,000 acres (16 km2; 6.3 sq mi).

On July 9, the fire grew to over 10,000 acres (40 km2; 16 sq mi) and began moving towards lightly populated areas outside of Kasilof and Soldotna.