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ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Firefighters on Alaska's largest wildfire have welcomed the first smattering of rain that could help with containment.
As of this morning, the Funny River Fire had burned 284 square miles of mostly wild lands within the nearly 3,000-square-mile Kenai (KEEN'-eye) National Wildlife Refuge.
Just a small fraction of an inch of rain fell overnight, but weather forecasters say rain is expected through the end of the week.
West winds pushed the fire to the northeast toward Skilak (SKEE'-lak) Lake Road, a 19-mile loop that runs parallel to the Sterling Highway.
The wind also pushed the fire east into wild refuge land.
Firefighters say several consecutive days of significant moisture are needed to alter the fire, which is being fought with 670 people.
Firefighters estimate containment at 30 percent.
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