Funny River Fire update

So by now ya'll know that there is a massive wildfire taking place about 2 hours south of Anchorage.  Alaska is no stranger to wildfires but they generally don't start this early or this bad.  You mostly hear about wildfires in the Interior.  This one is located in the Kenai Peninsula in the area of Soldotna.  That part of the Kenai is a big fishing area.  This entire wildfire was started by a campfire that was not properly put out.  This doesn't sound like a big deal but when you haven't had precipitation in roughly 2 months, it becomes a VERY big deal.

The last time I heard the stats the fire was right around 160,000 acres (which is roughly 250 square miles).  They say that it is 30% contained.  As of the last time I heard, there were no injuries.  There have been numerous evacuations.  At one point yesterday, the fire jumped a big river (Kenai River).  Here is a map of the fire's area and the proximity to the towns of Soldotna and Sterling.

 
Today, Joe and I headed to the grocery store right near our house and when we got to the parking lot this was our view.....

The smoke gave the sun a crazy red look.  I stole this picture from my friend on Facebook.

When we got home, the sky has a hazy brown look to it.  It is crazy looking.

Here are two crazy pictures that the news channel posted on their Facebook page (KTUU).

Lastly, this picture was shared on Facebook (can't remember by who).  But apparently last night after the sun actually went down, someone who lives on the Hillside in South Anchorage (our house is considered lower hillside) went outside and took this picture.  You can literally see the fire from the hillside because the fire is so big.  You can see it from the hillside even though it is over two driving hours away.  INSANE.