On Monday, a quickly-spreading wildfire started on the Kenai Peninsula. Near Willow, the wildfire stated a day earlier. Officials said that fire crews have been battling to control the second wildfire in Alaska. Fire crews have safely evacuated hundreds of homes, but six structures were burnt.

Grass fire near the community of Sterling was reported in the early afternoon. But the early evening, it has expanded to 640 acres posing threat to around 200 homes. Vickielee Fenster, a public information officer for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, was of the view that the Sockeye fire had grown to 8,500 acres by 9.30 pm Monday.

For now, the department officials are unsure of the fact that whether the burnt structures were homes or some other type of buildings.

There is no report of any injury. Two emergency shelters have been set up for people who have to evacuate their homes. Hundreds of those who have fled from their homes due to the fire have taken shelters north and south of its perimeters. There have been reports of animals killed in the blaze.

The fire has not ended and currently, it has an 18-mile perimeter at that time. Gov. Bill Walker said that he will accept a state disaster declaration requested by the borough. “It was amazing to see the number of homes that were there -- that only were there because people risked their lives to fight for those homes”, said Walker.