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State and federal partners take innovative approaches to fire prevention and community resilience in Alaska

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There’s a whole lot of partnering going on in Alaska. The Alaska Region is known for its authentic relationships with local, state, tribal and other federal agencies and communities of all sizes. That same dedication to collaboration is evident in the realm of fire protection.

This September, Forest Service employees and staff from the State of Alaska, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection toured Alaska to see how federal funding is making impactful, local changes in fire prevention and community resilience.

These efforts demonstrate a successful collaboration between the agency and partners such as local fire departments, boroughs, and the state, showcasing how partnerships can protect communities from wildfire hazards.

Two people stand near piles of brush at a disposal site on a cloudy day, with a dense forest in the background.
Members of the USDA Forest Service and Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection meet with Denali Borough Emergency Management at a widely utilized local brush disposal site. The brush is either chipped for compost or burned by professionals when conditions are safe.

The focus was on woody debris disposal sites, a program designed to reduce wildland fire risks, and additionally showcased how multiple pass-through funding programs from the Forest Service to the State of Alaska converge to enhance fire prevention strategies across the state.

Safe Disposal Mitigates Fire Hazards

The tour included visits to six woody debris disposal sites in the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs, along with a developing site in Nenana. Funded through Forest Service programs administered by the State of Alaska, these sites provide residents with a safe alternative to burning woody debris, a leading cause of wildfires in the region. Instead of risking uncontrolled burns, the debris is professionally processed, either burned safely or chipped into compost for agricultural use or innovative wood programs.  

Two individuals are unloading brush from the bed of a red pickup truck at a designated disposal area.
Residents in the Mat-Su Borough using a brush disposal site to safely remove brush and debris from their property. These sites provide residents with a safe alternative to burning woody debris, a leading cause of wildfires in the region. The debris is professionally processed, either burned safely or chipped into compost for agricultural use or innovative wood programs.

Expanding Woody Debris Disposal Initiatives

The six disposal sites operated by the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs play a crucial role in reducing wildfire risks by providing residents with safe and accessible options for disposing of woody debris. To further enhance these efforts, a new initiative seeks to repurpose the collected debris by converting it into compost that can be made publicly available.

However, transporting debris to disposal sites remains a challenge for many residents. Programs like ‘Chipper Days,’ organized by the West Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, help alleviate this issue by bringing mobile chipping services directly to neighborhoods and hosting events that make disposal more convenient and effective.

A McKinley Village volunteer firefighter stands in a snowy landscape, observing a controlled burn at a disposal site with mountains in the background.
A McKinley Village volunteer firefighter managing a controlled burn at the local woody debris disposal site. Federal funding through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program helped the department purchase equipment to safely manage these sites and bolster their capacity for fire response.

Strengthening Communities with Wildfire Protection Plans

Community Wildfire Protection Plans are collaboratively created to reduce the threat of wildfire by locally identifying risks, prioritizing treatment areas and creating targeted strategies. The Denali Borough and Nenana Native Association are currently developing these plans using what is referred to as pass-through funding and Community Wildfire Defense Grants. In Denali Borough’s McKinley Village, local planning efforts led to the creation of a nearby disposal site, providing a vital resource for residents who previously had to travel long distances to dispose of debris safely.

Additional federal funding, such as the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program, has also bolstered local Alaska fire departments protection and prevention initiatives. The McKinley Volunteer Fire Department, visited in the Denali Borough, used these funds to acquire essential firefighting equipment. The financial support enabled staff to safely manage pile burning at the local disposal site and simultaneously enhance their wildland fire response capability.

The Mayor of Nenana stands in the boiler room showcasing part of the conveyer belt machinery to the boiler system being built.
The Nenana Mayor brings USDA Forest Service and Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection staff on a tour of their boiler facility for the wood innovations program. The boiler will use wood chips from the disposal site to heat community buildings including the school, the recreation hall, water treatment facility, and fire station.

Nenana: A Model for Sustainable Fire Prevention

Nenana’s Forest Service Wood Innovations Program grant project offers an inspiring case study in community-led fire prevention and sustainable energy. This project will reduce fire hazards by utilizing woody debris as fuel for a biomass boiler which will heat vital community buildings including the local school, fire department, water treatment facility, and recreation hall.

Collaboration For A Fire-Adapted Future

The partnership displayed through these federal and state programs highlight the power of collaboration, innovation, and the lasting impact of federal funding in building fire-adapted communities across Alaska. Together, these efforts are creating a safer, more resilient future for residents in wildfire-prone areas.

Scenic view of a spruce stand around a lake with mountains in the background. Many of the trees in the photo have been killed by spruce bark beetle activity.
A spruce stand in the Denali Borough impacted by Spruce Beetle activity. The in-progress Community Wildfire Protection Plan, supported by pass-through USDA Forest Service funding, aims to address the widespread beetle kill in the region as a way to reduce the threat of wildfire to nearby communities.
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Categories: AK Fire Info, Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), Grants, USDA Forest Service, Region 10

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