Longer Alaskan days mean summer and the wildland fire season are just around the corner. March and April are busy months with outreach programs all across the state. Each spring, the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is busy hosting trainings for new and returning firefighters and helping to distribute burn permits to communities (required annually from April 1 – August 31).

This past weekend there were numerous outreach and education events. With a giant Smokey Bear reminding everyone to prevent human caused wildfires, Mat-Su Area Prevention Officers met with hundreds of people at the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show at the Menard Center. In Fairbanks, DOF staff shared information at the Carlson Center as a part of the Interior Alaska Building Association’s Home Show. And at Glennallen’s Copper River Native Association Job Fair, DOF firefighters and outreach specialists met with students, prospective new firefighters and members of the local area.

Youth are very important partners in wildfire prevention and preparedness. In addition, younger Alaskans are especially heavily impacted by wildfires when schools are evacuated, their houses impacted, or the summer air is heavy with smoke. We believe that ongoing outreach and education can help everyone prevent wildfires, while also helping people use firewise practices to prepare their homes, shops and cabins for the summer wildfire season.

Stop by for a visit to pick up your 2023 burn permits or learn about upcoming trainings!

Online burn permits can be downloaded at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn

Red Card classes and trainings can be viewed at https://forestry.alaska.gov/training/

#2023AlaskaFireSeason#wildlandfire#fireprevention#wildlandfiretraining#TakeTimeToLearnBeforeYouBurn

Categories: AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), Fire Prevention, recruitment

Tags: carlson center, Copper River Native Association, Education, Glennallen, job fair, menard center, outreach, prevention, Red Card class, school outreach