Alyeska responds to fires in Interior

Alaska’s unusually hot and dry summer has resulted in one of its worst wildland fire seasons ever. Interior Alaska’s Boundary and Fort Hamlin Hills fires were among the nation’s top priority wildland fires in June and prompted Alyeska officials to take extra fire precautions by expanding burn breaks around sections of the trans-Alaska pipeline.

“We made the decision to redirect extra manpower to the Fort Hamlin Hills area because of the fires proximity to the Remote Gate Valves (RGVs) in that area,” said Rich Skvarch, Alyeska’s Right of Way maintenance manager. “Any time fires threaten the electrical components of the operations, we take a proactive stance.”

“As part of our aboveground maintenance program, we maintain brushing around the RGVs and near sites that contain oil spill response equipment,” said Skvarch.

The Fort Hamlin Hills fire eventually crossed the pipeline several times near Pump Station 6 on the Dalton Highway, but no significant damage occurred.

“We know we have insulation damage and it could cover close to a mile of pipeline in two to three locations,” said Skvarch. “An engineering survey will be conducted in the upcoming weeks that will give us an estimate of the required repair work. The work will be completed as part of the aboveground maintenance prior to winter.”

During the original construction of the pipeline, designers anticipated wildfires and wrapped the 48-inch pipe with a 3-inch-thick composite of fibrous glass insulation covered with a galvanized steel outer jacket that can withstand flame and extreme heat.

Hundreds of wildland fires have occurred near the pipeline in its 27-year-history. Consequently, routine ground maintenance procedures require the removal of trees and brush along the pipeline right-of-way. Fire response resources are pre-positioned at key locations. And pipeline managers work closely with fire officials and regulators to determine fire threat levels and appropriate response.