The presence of bears near a wildland fire in Alaska is nothing new to the firefighting community, but the use of professionally trained Karelian bear dogs was a first, nationwide, on the Isom Creek Fire (#187), located south of the Yukon River and along the Dalton Highway, during June, 2020.
Soledad and Rio, two Karelian bear dogs, are petted by members of Pioneer Peak Hotshot crew while in their spike camp near the Isom Creek Fire (#187). The dogs, along with their handler Nils Pedersen, were patrolling around firefighters camps and areas along the fireline where crews work to keep bears away. The dogs are being used as a non-leather deterrent to nuisance bears.
Source: akfireinfo.com
