Firefighters make significant progress on Alaska wildfire

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Firefighters are making progress on an Alaska wildfire that has claimed 51 homes.

Nearly 450 firefighters working the fire about 70 miles (112 kilometres) north of Alaska’s largest city brought it to 46 per cent containment Monday, up from 10 per cent on Friday.

Residents along a roughly 10-mile (16 kilometre) stretch of the Parks Highway, the main thoroughfare between Anchorage and Denali National Park, were allowed back into their homes Monday after being ordered to evacuate after the fire started Aug. 17.

The fire has burned 5.2 sq. miles (13 sq. kilometres). The cause is under investigation, but the Alaska Division of Forestry said it was human caused.

Besides homes, three businesses and 84 outbuildings have been destroyed.