As you enjoy the warmer weather this weekend, please remember to practice fire safety. Ensure any outdoor fires are completely extinguished, and never leave them unattended. Start the weekend off right by being mindful of area closures, fire restrictions and keeping a safe distance from dry vegetation. Together, we can help prevent wildfires and protect our communities.

This weekend, expect some warming as a high-pressure system moves in to, bringing clearer skies and higher temperatures to much of interior Alaska. Sunday and Monday should be the warmest days, with temperatures reaching the mid 70s to low 80s before cooler weather and some showers arrive Sunday evening.

Closures and fire restrictions that may impact recreation in the Fairbanks Area:

• Burn permit: State law requires those wanting to conduct any open burning on state, private and municipal lands from April 1 through Aug. 31 to get burn permits from the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection either online or at your local DOF office. This includes burning brush piles, using burn barrels, agricultural burning and burning of maintained lawns. Burn permits are NOT required for camping, cooking or warming fires less than three feet in diameter with flame lengths less than two feet high. However, it’s not suggested during windy days or when and where there are red flag warnings. You can also find more information about the Forestry burn permit program and suspensions at https://dnr.alaska.gov/burn.

• Alaska State Parks has Olnes Pond and the Whitefish Campground closed due to fire activity associated with the Himilaya Complex fires. Find park open status here.

• The Eastern Interior Field Office has temporarily closed public access to the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area due to ongoing wildland fire activity associated with the Obrien fire (#172). The closure includes trails, public use cabins, trail shelters and the Wickersham Dome Trailhead (mile 28 Elliott Highway), which may be used as a base camp for firefighters nearby. Click here for a map.

• The following BLM trails are closed:
  • Wickersham Creek Trail
  • Trail Creek Trail (between the junction with Wickersham Creek Trail and the junction with Moose Creek Trail)
  • Moose Creek Trail
  • Summit Trail
  • The following BLM public use cabins and shelters are closed:
  • Lee’s Cabin
  • Eleazar’s Cabin
  • Yeager’s Cabin
  • Moose Creek Cabin
  • Summit Trail Shelter
  • Wickersham Creek Trail Shelter

• The Ninetyeight Fire, approximately 21 miles northeast of Salcha,  is 15,677 acres and 18% contained as of Wednesday. Boaters using the Salcha River please use extreme caution between Mile 30 and Mile 42 due to high levels of fire-related boat traffic.

Non-fire closures:

• From 6 a.m. on Mondays to 7 p.m. on Fridays May – October, the western part of Nome Creek Road, which leads to Ophir Creek Campground from Nome Creek Bridge, may be closed for road improvements and culvert replacement to improve drainage and reduce the likelihood of spring washouts.
• During the closures, the public will not be able to access recreation sites along the road, including Table Top Mountain Trail, Nome Creek Airstrip, Moose Creek Landing, Ophir Creek Campground, and the put-in for Beaver Creek Wild and Scenic River. Moose Creek Landing will remain closed throughout the season to support the construction project.
• The road will be open on weekends, federal holidays, and for moose hunting September 1-15. For openings, travelers should expect traffic controls and delays of up to 20 minutes.
• The eastern section of Nome Creek Road will not be under construction and will remain open, providing summer access to Quartz Creek Trail, Mount Prindle Campground, and upper Nome Creek.
• Questions? Contact the BLM Fairbanks Public Room at 907-474-2200 or 1-800-437-7021 (toll free) 

Categories: AK Fire Info, Fire Prevention, Fire Restrictions