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The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (AFS) 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, AFS 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 with a $10 million inventory. The Alaska Fire Service provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, USDA 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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BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumper training jumps start March 27
Starting March 27, BLM Alaska Fire Service Smokejumpers will conduct training jumps in the skies above the Fairbanks and North Pole areas in preparation for the upcoming fire season. The required refresher and training jumps will occur throughout April and May.
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Recruitment for BLM AFS North Star Fire Crew is open for 2023 season
Recruitment for the 2023 BLM Alaska Fire Service Type 2 North Star Fire Crew is open until April 1. This entry-level crew provides a pathway to a career in wildland firefighting.
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BLM to burn debris along the Dalton Highway for forest health and wildfire management
Smoke may be visible along the Dalton Highway FAIRBANKS, Alaska – In mid- to late October, the Bureau of Land Management’s Fairbanks District and Alaska Fire Service personnel will burn woody debris piles near the Dalton Highway at Mileposts 62 and 180… Read More ›
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BLM AFS, USARAK to burn debris piles on military lands in Interior Alaska
BLM AFS, in cooperation with U.S. Army Alaska, will burn piles of woody debris on military training lands in Interior Alaska Oct. 1-21.
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BLM will burn piles near Tanacross for forest health and wildfire management
In early October, the BLM’s Fairbanks District and Alaska Fire Service personnel will burn woody debris piles near Tanacross to reduce the risk of wildfire, to private property community, and to provide a safe space for firefighters to suppress fires in the future.
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Yukon Flats wildfires remain very active second day in row
Wildfires in the Yukon Flats exhibited extreme fire behavior Thursday for the second day in a row – prompting smokejumpers to conduct burn operations to protect two Native allotments and a cabin.
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Wildfires show extreme behavior in northeastern Alaska due to dry, warm conditions
While rains have swept through a majority of Alaska, they have largely avoided northeastern Alaska which remains the warmest, driest part of the state. The area hasn’t seen a new fire since July 29, but existing wildfires in the Yukon Flats remain very active while other fires in the rest of the state are largely dormant.
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2022 East Fork Fire highlights importance of proactive firefighting
The 2022 East Fork Fire is the largest fire in recorded history in the Yukon Delta area. Precipitation throughout the year usually prevents large wildfires around the area’s communities, but a recent drought lead to extremely dry surface vegetation that… Read More ›
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BLM rescinds fire closure order to prohibit access to western White Mountains National Recreation Area
Due to reduced wildland fire activity, the BLM Eastern Interior Field Office rescinded the fire closure order that temporarily prohibited public access to the western portion of the White Mountains National Recreation Area
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Temporary prohibition on open fires rescinded by BLM Fairbanks District Office and Glennallen Field Office
On Monday, the BLM Fairbanks District and Glennallen Field Office rescinded the fire prevention orders temporarily prohibited open fires on the BLM-managed public lands in eastern and central Alaska. Only one fire prevention order remains in place for BLM Alaska.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 