Just over a year ago on June 13th, a small 2-3 acre fire burning in black spruce was reported near the Kuskokwim River just six miles south of McGrath, Alaska. What became known as the About Mountain Fire grew substantially… Read More ›
Month: April 2022
True Survival Story: Firewise & Fuel Breaks Helped Save Alaskans During Fast Moving McKinley Fire 2019
Alaskan wildfire survivor Pete Petram describes the terrifying moments he and his wife Sandy spent as flames crossed Hidden Hills Road while evacuating the explosive 2019 McKinley Fire. “Sandy could feel the heat through the door as we drove through… Read More ›
Narrated Aerial Surveillance Flight + Infrared Footage of Kwethluk Fire April 26, 2022
A flyover video narrated by DOF’s mapping specialist Matt Snyder yesterday for the Kwethluk Fire includes infrared footage and a detailed description of how the fire burned, where it tried to go and where it was held by natural barriers…. Read More ›
Natural Barriers and Weather Change Halt Kwethluk Fire (#012) Remains in Monitor Status at 10,302 acres
Forward movement has been halted for the early season Kwethluk Fire. Burning in tundra, grasses and brush since Saturday April 16th, the wind driven wildfire has been finding sun dried fuels in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Originally reported… Read More ›
Burning operations planned for military training lands in Interior Alaska to reduce wildfire threat
BLM Alaska Fire Service and U.S. Army Alaska to conduct prescribed burning on military training lands near Delta Junction, Eielson Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright to reduce wildfire threat. Burning could start as early as May 1 and last through May 31.
Kwethluk Fire (#012): 5th Observation Flight Predicts 9,693 acre Fire Running Out of Fuel and Into Natural Barriers
Friday afternoon at 4:15pm, DOF’s aerial mapping specialist Matt Snyder took his fifth observation flight of the now 9,693 acre Kwethluk Fire (fire #012) burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Snyder, based at the DOF station in McGrath, has… Read More ›
Kwethluk Fire (#012) Grows to 7,000 acres in dry Tundra with No Risk to Native Allotments
DOF’s surveillance and mapping flight yesterday confirmed that the Kwethluk Fire (fire #012), burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge 25 miles east southeast of Kwethluk, continues to grow. Fire mapping specialist Matt Snyder compared the data he collected… Read More ›
Proposed 6.2 Mile Fuel Break North of Houston & Meadow Lakes Public Comments Due April 25th
Protecting the communities of Meadow Lakes and Houston from continuous fire prone fuels has long been a shared goal between the local communities and the Division of Forestry. Public comments for this two phase multi year 6.2 mile fuel break… Read More ›
Prescribed Fire with DOF & Butte VFD at Maud Rd Shooting Range to Prevent Human Caused Wildfires
The Division of Forestry’s Mat-Su area wildland fire technicians and members of the the Butte Fire Department will be conducting a controlled burn of available fuels at the Kenny and Patti Barber Shooting Range on Wednesday, April 20th, 2022. Numerous… Read More ›
Narrated Flyover Aerial Video of the 4,048 acre Kwethluk Fire (#012) Burning in Dry Tundra & Grass
Watch this flyover of the remote Kwethluk Fire (#012) narrated by mapping specialist and DOF’s Southwest Area Aviation Foreman Matt Snyder. This four plus minute video was recorded yesterday with the fire estimated to be over 4,048 acres and growing… Read More ›