The Latest: Nearly 300 firefighters tackle Alaska wildfire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on an Alaska wildfire threatening homes (all times local):

11 a.m.

Officials say nearly 300 firefighters are tackling a wildfire that is threatening two subdivisions just south of Anchorage.

Officials say five hotshot crews from Northern California are helping to boost the numbers Thursday of those fighting the fire, which is estimated at nearly 1 1/2 square miles in size.

The extra help comes as rains arrived Thursday in the area about 10 miles south of Anchorage. The rain is not expected to have much effect on the deeply entrenched heat of the blaze that is burning near cliffs overlooking the Seward Highway, the only road leading south of town.

Officials say a more wetting rain is expected overnight.

Fire information spokeswoman Celeste Prescott says the fire is 5 per cent contained.

Prescott says the fire is still about a mile from the two subdivisions on either side of it. There are no immediate plans for evacuations.

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10:30 a.m.

Rains have arrived as more than 200 firefighters try to get an upper hand on a wildfire threatening two subdivisions just south of Anchorage.

Fire information spokeswoman Celeste Prescott says Thursday’s rain is not expected to be enough to have much effect on the deeply entrenched heat of the blaze burning on cliffs overlooking a highway. But a more wetting rain is expected overnight.

New mapping nearly tripled the size of the fire, now estimated at nearly 1 1/2 square miles. Prescott says the fire did not grow much and is still about a mile from the two subdivisions on either side of it. There are no immediate plans for evacuations.

Smoke was drifting into Alaska’s largest city Thursday.