September 8th, 2025
Tok, Alaska- Less wind, cooler weather, and no new starts have allowed some time for training. As firefighters, firefighter and public safety is always the first priority, but firefighting comes with some risk. Sunday, after the morning briefing, a medical-focused training was conducted by Tok station firefighters where a patient was packaged and loaded on a helicopter. The practice was facilitated by Terry Solomon, a State of Alaska EMT instructor and former Alaska Wildland Fire Medic.
In addition to the daily engine patrols, training, pile burning on the 7 Mile Lookout Fire, and staffing lookouts, another important fuel reduction project is continuing.
Approximately 30 miles of fuel breaks have been completed around the community of Tok. This has been accomplished with the use of a masticator, a huge machine that grinds fuels into pulp. The 100-foot-wide swath will greatly improve the chances of a wildfire being stopped that may threaten the community and its infrastructure. This is part of the Tok Wildland Urban Interface Project that was started about five years ago. As this work continues, Tok area Forestry asks that the public be aware of the heavy machinery working and that a safe distance be kept as it works to increase the miles of fuel breaks around Tok.
As of September 1st, Burn Permits are no longer required. Safe burning Statutes & Regulations are in effect and enforceable year-round. More information may be found here: https://forestry.alaska.gov/Assets/pdfs/burn/2019/statutes & regs combined for burn webpages.pdf
For Tok Area residents, if you are safely burning brush, please call Northern Forestry Dispatch Center at 907-451-2623 with your address so they know to expect smoke in the area. Carefully consider weather conditions before proceeding with your burn.
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Categories: AK Fire Info
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 