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The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska (USWFS) is located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, provides wildland fire suppression services for over 244 million acres of Department of the Interior and Native Corporation Lands in Alaska. In addition, USWFS has other statewide responsibilities that include: interpretation of fire management policy; oversight of the BLM Alaska Aviation program; fuels management projects; and operating and maintaining advanced communication and computer systems such as the Alaska Lightning Detection System. AFS also maintains a National Incident Support Cache. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.
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U.S. Wildland Fire Service Tackles Multiple New Wildfires After Lightning in Western Alaska
Smokejumpers, aided in some cases by aircraft, are working on three new fires in Western Alaska on Wednesday night after lightning moved through the area in recent days. Smokejumpers and water scoopers responded to the Horseshoe Fire (#390), located 11… Read More ›
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Increased Aircraft Activity in Kaltag as Firefighters Work Toward Containment
Expect to see increased aircraft and personnel activity in and out of Kaltag today as the U.S. Wildland Fire Service continues work on the 55‑acre Notakok Fire, burning about one mile from the community. Half of the U.S. Wildland Fire… Read More ›
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Firefighters Increase Oblaron Fire Containment to 90%
Containment has reached 90%, meaning firefighters have built a secure control line around the fire and extinguished remaining hot spots within the perimeter. With these measures in place, the fire is not expected to spread further in these areas. It remains 21 acres.
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Crews Make Final Push on Big Fire, Now 85% Contained
The Big Fire is now 85% contained. Most of the firefighters will filter out of the fire area in the next two days with the goal of having all personnel out of Ruby by Saturday.
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Aircraft, Smokejumpers Keep Oblaron Fire From Reaching Selawik Solar Array
Smokejumpers worked through the early morning hours and held the fire to an estimated 21 acres with 60% containment.
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Coordinated U.S. Wildland Fire Service Air and Ground Response Holds Notakok Fire Near Kaltag at 55 Acres
Smokejumpers and aircraft made strong progress on the Notakok Fire (#367) near Kaltag Monday evening. Thanks to coordinated efforts from 15 smokejumpers and water‑dropping aircraft, the fire has been held at 55 acres. Thanks to coordinated work from smokejumpers and… Read More ›
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Firefighters Make Strong Progress on Bean Fire, Now 90% Contained
After nine water scoopers pummeled and significantly cool the Bean Fire (#362) on Sunday night, firefighters were able to make good progress and bring the fire to 90% containment on Monday.
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U.S. Wildland Fire Service Sending Smokejumpers, Aircraft to Fire Near Selawik
Twelve smokejumpers from Galena and an Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection air tanker loaded with retardant are responding to a wind‑driven tundra fire that escaped from the Selawik landfill today.
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Smokejumpers, Aircraft Responding to New Fire Near Kaltag
Twelve smokejumpers and several water scoopers are responding to a fire about 4 miles north of Kaltag and approximately 1.5 miles from the nearest Native allotment
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Cecil Fire Reaches Full Containment; Big Fire at 70% as Work Nears End
Firefighters wrapped up work on the Cecil Fire, and others continued making steady progress on the nearby Big Fire. The two incidents were managed together in Ruby by a Type 3 incident management team. The lightning‑caused fires were detected on June 26 and are located about 11 miles east of Ruby, separated by roughly half a mile. Neither fire is threatening the community or nearby Native allotments.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 