While the 2015 Alaska fire season is closing in on the 5-million-acre mark and already ranks among the top 5 largest wildfire seasons on record – we’re at No. 4 right now and less than 200,000 acres from No. 2 – we still have a ways to go before this year challenges the record for the most fires in one season.
As of Friday morning, the number of fires so far this season stood at 689, which ranks 9th on the list of the most fires in a season dating back to 1939, according to statistics from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center.
The record for the number of fires in one season is 924 in 1986. Number two on the list is 1974 with 869 fires, followed by 1972 with 780.
In 2004, which ranks No. 1 on the list of the largest wildfire seasons on record in terms of acreage at 6,590,140 acres, there were 701 fires. That ranks No. 8 on the all-time list in terms of fire numbers.
Here’s a list of the years with the most fires and the acreage burned in those years:
1) 1986 – 924 fires – 481,808 acres
2) 1974 – 869 fires – 662,960 acres
3) 1972 – 780 fires – 966,247 acres
4) 1993 – 759 fires – 712,868 acres
5) 1990 – 750 fires – 3,189,079 acres
6) 1991 – 748 fires – 1,637,950 acres
7) 1987 – 707 acres – 222,066 acres
8) 2004 – 701 fires – 6,590,140 acres
9) 2015 – 689 fires – 4,778,638 acres
10) 2010 – 688 fires – 1,125,419 acres
11) 1997 – 686 fires – 2,026,806 acres
12) 1969 – 685 fires – 4,231,820 acres
Categories: Active Wildland Fire, AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 