FAIRBANKS — Stalled growth and increased containment from rain in the Interior has caused both the Hastings Fire north of Fairbanks and the East Volkmar Fire near Delta Junction to be downgraded in importance, though officials are remaining cautious.

The Alaska Type Two “Green” Management Team is taking control of the Hastings Fire, which was downgraded from a Type One incident. Personnel will slowly be withdrawn, but crews will continue to work active areas of the fire and monitor potential trouble spots.

Drier weather has been forecast for this weekend, and a fire behavior analyst has informed officials that “there is potential for some fire growth,” said Pete Buist, public information officer for the outgoing Type One Incident Management Team.

Officials are hopeful that the fire will burn toward Washington Creek, which, though not wide enough to stop a raging fire in its tracks, will act as a natural barrier to a slower burning fire.

“Any fire behavior depends on three things: weather, topography and fuels,” Buist said.

Fire burns more rapidly when moving uphill for several reasons, the primary being that hot air rises, creating a draft that further fuels the flames.

Helicopter landing spots have been constructed closer to Washington Creek to improve crew access. While there are currently no suppression lines along the creek, it can be used as a water source for firefighters as needed.

The Hastings Fire is 35 percent contained, with 817 firefighters and an estimated size of 23,110 acres.

The Oregon Type 2 Incident Management Team that had been controlling operations on the East Volkmar Fire has turned over command to a state of Alaska Type 3 Incident Management Team. The Oregon team had been called in because state resources were concentrated on managing the Hastings Fire, said Ted Pettis, public information officer for the East Volkmar fire. The downgrade was warranted because containment goals are being met and there has been very little fire growth because of the weather.

Crews have begun to demobilize and are using helicopters to backhaul equipment and supplies for storage or disposal as needed. There were 314 firefighters at work Thursday, but personnel will continue to be cut.

About six crews of 20 firefighters each are expected to remain and will be repositioned to the south flank near Healy Lake.

The East Volkmar Fire has not been mapped since June 10 and its size is still estimated at 58,050 acres.

Contact staff writer Dorothy Chomicz at 459-7590.