| The first objective of firefighters battling the Evansville Fire was to protect the town of Bettles; a vital northwest link for Alaska's air travelers and toursits needing fuel and supplies.
Successfully diverting the main fire away from Bettles, smokejumpers turned their attention to protecting the historic ghost town of Old Bettles.
Once a bustling logging and hunting outpost, it's creaking buildings now succumb to erosion and decay inherent to the harsh climactic changes of Alaska.
The Evansville Fire left the old landmark untouched, and our walk through antiquated workshops, a brothel, and cabins was merely a quiet trip to a time long past. |
