Cooler, wetter weather over a good portion of the state last week kept fire activity to a minimum. Things quickly died out leading to a couple of new fires to end the week in the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) response area.
Nikiski Fire Department received a report of a tree on powerline late Monday afternoon, April 20th, with potential arcing and sparking near Daniels Lake Road and Lucille Drive. Nikiski FD requested a response from DFFP to the Daniels Lake Fire (011). Once Nikiski arrived on scene, they reported no arcing or sparking, ensured the homeowner was aware and departed the scene. A DFFP Prevention Officer responded to find a cottonwood leaning on the powerline. Homer Electric Association arrived and cut power to the line so prevention could conduct their investigation. Prevention determined 0.1 acres of burned area associated with the tree. The fire was called contained, controlled and placed in monitor status. DFFP patrols will continue to check the fire to ensure it does not rekindle before calling the fire out.
MATCOM Public Service Dispatch alerted DFFP Coastal Dispatch Center to the Conestoga Fire (013) on Conestoga Loop in Palmer on Sunday, April 26. Palmer Fire & Rescue and a DFFP Prevention Officer responded to a reported grass fire spreading into the wildland. The cause of the 0.1-acre fire was from the burning of a lawn. The fire was contained, controlled and called out.
MATCOM Public Service Dispatch alerted DFFP Coastal Dispatch Center to the Green Forest Fire (014) on North Green Forest Drive in Palmer on Sunday, April 26. Responding forestry resources reported a 10 ft x 10 ft smoldering fire burning in a dead and downed burn pile among mixed hardwoods. The 0.1-acre fire was contained, controlled and called out.
Looking at the long-term weather forecast, an active and unsettled pattern is expected to persist across much of Alaska, with no significant pattern change into the weekend. This system could bring very strong gusts, widespread precipitation and mountain snow for Southcentral as it works its way north. Keep in mind conditions will change quickly as the sun and warmer spring weather returns. Dead and down vegetation will dry quickly leaving the potential for wildland fires very likely. Burn Permits are required state-wide in Alaska from April 1st to August 31st for anything larger than a cooking/warming fire that is three feet in diameter and two feet in height. These permits include a brush pile of organic material not exceeding 10 feet in diameter by 4 feet in height, a burn barrel for burning only untreated wood, leaves, grass clippings, carboard and paper or burning a maintained lawn of less than 1 acre. For more information on the Burn Permit program go to dnr.alaska.gov/burn.
Categories: Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry (DOF), Fire Prevention
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 