Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection has responded to additional fires since last week’s report. All fires so far this year have been human caused.
Kenai-Kodiak Area
A burn pile escaped, spreading to surrounding grass and continued burning in deep ground material on Saturday, April 29. Central Emergency Services Fire Department and DOF engines responded, and the fire was contained and controlled at .2 acres.
An additional fire was reported from Kodiak City Fire Department from the weekend of April 22. They responded to an escaped campfire that was contained and controlled at .1 acres.
Tok Area
Tok DOF and Tok Fire Department responded to reports of a fire 22 miles east of Tok on Saturday, April 29. The fire was caused by a ruptured lithium battery that fell off a vehicle and burned .1 acres of the surrounding grass after another vehicle ran over the battery. The fire was called contained and controlled.
Mat-Su Area
Mat-Su area DOF responded to two human caused fires on Sunday, April 30. The first was caused by a heat lamp in a chicken coop that spread and smoldered in grass. Central Fire Department was on scene when DOF arrived, and the fire was controlled and contained at .1 acres. The second fire was an escaped lawn burn that spread into surrounding grass and brush. DOF engines and Sutton Fire Department contained and controlled the fire at .1 acres.
Brush pile burning is one of the leading sources of human caused wildland fires in Alaska. Exposed, dead grass and brush in yards and around burn barrels can dry out within just a few short hours of sunlight and become extremely flammable. When burning brush piles always only burn one pile at a time, keep the piles smaller than 10 feet in diameter and four feet high, clear at least 10 feet of ground surrounding the pile to mineral soil, and stay with the pile until completely out and cool to the touch.
Lawn burning specifications require you to only burn maintained lawn no larger than one acre and four inches in height. Always maintain an eight-foot wet perimeter on the ground around the burn and stay with the lawn until completely out and cold to the touch.
Burn permits are currently required in Alaska. Allowable specifications and safe burning practices are included in DOF small scale burn permits, available for download at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn, local DOF area offices, as well as local fire departments.
Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 