HOUSTON, Alaska (AP) - Fire crews are battling a second wildfire in Alaska and officials say hundreds of homes have been evacuated and six structures have burned.
The fast-moving blaze erupted Monday on the Kenai Peninsula, roughly 100 miles south of major wildfire that started a day earlier near Willow in the heart of the state's sled-dog community.
The new fire was first reported in the early afternoon as a 1-acre grass fire near the community of Sterling, but by early evening it had expanded to 640 acres was threatening some 200 homes.
Alaska's Department of Natural Resources says in a news release that the "explosive wildland fire on the Kenai Peninsula forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes," but did not provide a more precise figure.
It said that it's still unclear if the burned structures are homes or some other type of buildings.
There have been no reports of any injuries in the new blaze.
Two emergency shelters have been set up for evacuees.
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