Incident Commander of the Stuart Creek II blaze issued an evacuation notice effective 1pm today for recidents of Two Rivers and Pleasant Vallley. The notice pertains to all residences and businesses along the Chena Hot Springs Road between mileposts 18 and 34.

The Incident Commander pointed out that the evacuation route for that area is west on Chena Hot Springs Road. He also announced that once you leave you may not be able to re-enter until danger from the fire has passed.

An evacuation center has been established by the Red Cross at Weller Elementary School, 635 Elementary Drive, located at Mile Post 2.5 on the Chena Hot Springs Road.

Pets and livestock may be taken to the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds.

Large personal property items such as motor homes, boats, and heavy equipment can be left at West Valley High School, 3800 Geist Rd, Fairbanks.

The firefighting priorities were laid out in the announcement today. Those priorities are:

The health and safety of the public and firefighters

Providing protection of private residences, cabins, and other improvements within and adjacent to the fire area.

Communication of fire information to the public and all stakeholders.

The Incident Commander asked that evacuees follow the instructions given by both law enforcement and firefighting officials. Step were listed on how to make the evacuation less stressful, safer, and easier. Those steps are:

Know where your family members are.

Make certain everyone knows where you will meet after you evacuate.

Make sure everyone in the family knows the evacuation route.

Make arrangements with a friend or family far from the fire to serve as a telephone message center to allow you to stay in touch with your family. Provide that person’s telephone number to friends or relatives who might worry.

Take all prescription medicines.

Stay informed about fire developments.

Remain calm so you can think clearly and act decisively.

Be advised, cell phone networks often get overloaded during emergency situations, alternative methods of communications should be considered.

Evacuees are advised to drive with headlights on, to be on the lookout for firefighting equuipment, and not to stop to watch the fire or the firefighting activities.

Persons can call (907) 356-5511 or monitor the following social media sites: Fairbanks North Star Borough website https://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/EmergencyOperations/default.htm, AICC website https://fire.ak.blm.gov/, Fire information twitter updates https://twitter.com/info_ciimt1, and Inciweb https://www.inciweb.org/incident/3468/.