UPDATE:

John See, speaking on behalf of the Division of Forestry, said late Saturday that a pilot car was in place to help travelers trying to pass along the Parks Highway through the area of the McKinley Fire.

Mat-Su Borough officials said Sunday morning, however, that conditions in the area are expected to worsen throughout the day, and that people should try to avoid the Parks Highway between miles 87 and 94. The road will be closed intermittently throughout the day, they said, by Alaska State Troopers.

See said the fire was being held at around 150 acres as of 9:15 p.m. Saturday. Anchorage fire crews and a team from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson were also en route to help with structure protection in the coming days.

UPDATE, 7:45 p.m.:

According to Tim Mowry of the Alaska Division of Forestry, the McKinley Fire was covering between 120 and 140 acres as of 6:45pm. Crews have aircraft and other resources en route to fight it overnight and their main goal is keeping the fire West of the Parks Highway.

Evacuation orders have been issued for residents along Wild Bill Way, Nancy Drive, and the Mat-Su RV Park and Campground. The Parks highway is shut down between miles 88 and 92.

Shelters have been set up North at the Upper Susitna Senior Center and South at the Willow Community Center.

“This is just one of several fires that are burning currently, or that we have responded to today,” Mowry said. “The guys in Mat-Su area of forestry really have their hands full right now.”

Mowry said he also wants to remind people to be careful with any potential fire starters because of the dry and hot conditions.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A residential neighborhood off Milepost 91 of the Parks Highway near Wild Bill Way is under an evacuation notice as yet another in a series of wildland fires that broke out Saturday threatens homes in the area.

Alaska State Troopers issued a Level 3 "Go" evacuation notice for residents in Wild Bill Way near Milepost 91.

Residents and others between Parks Highway MP 88 and 92 are urged to evacuate immediately.

According to John See with the Alaska Division of Forestry, the McKinley Fire is reportedly burning at between five and seven acres as of 5:45 p.m. Saturday, threatening structures in a subdivision off Wild Bill Way and as well as a nearby RV park.

Burning on the east side of the Parks Highway, that fire has reportedly jumped the Alaska Railroad Right-Of-Way and is among the top priorities for forestry crews.

"That's our main concern right now is trying to catch this fire as it burns toward these other structures," See told KTUU Saturday evening.

The cause of the fire is believed to be a result of downed power lines, high winds and dry conditions.

A three-person Division of Forestry helitack crew, two DOF engines, and multiple Mat-Su Borough units are on the scene assisting.

Three additional crews are expected to arrive tonight.

Further south on the Parks Highway, off Deshka Landing Road near Willow Swamp, another fire has grown to around 30 acres, and is threatening cabins located less than a mile away from the active burn area.

As of 5:45 p.m., three Alaska Smoke Jumpers and a four-member Mat-Su helitack crew were on the scene. Six additional smoke jumpers, the Midnight Sun and White Mountain Hot Shot crews are also en route to that fire.

The cause of that fire is currently unknown.

See says DOF is closely monitoring three other fires in the Mat-Su Borough.

Beth Verge contributed to this report.