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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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Coordinated response underway as firefighters address wildfires in Western Alaska
With more than 30 active fires across an area the size of Montana covering Western Alaska, BLM Alaska Fire Service Galena Zone fire managers are prioritizing limited resources based on risk to values and the best chance of success.
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Work continues on Ninetyeight Fire; smokejumpers contain McCoy Creek Fire
Smokejumpers continued working Sunday to protect structures and Alaska Native allotments from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218), which is burning north of the Salcha River.
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Alaska Type 3 team assumes command of fires burning near Central, Circle
A Type 3 incident management team composed primarily of Alaskans took command of the Ptarmigan Complex at 7 a.m. today. The Ptarmigan Complex is made up of a group of fires burning near Central and Circle. The Black Hills Wildland… Read More ›
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Community meeting about Lush Fire planned for today in Rampart
There will be a community meeting in Rampart at noon today, where fire managers will update residents about the efforts to protect allotments and structures from the Lush Fire (#199). The location is to be determined.
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BLM Alaska Fire Service manages multiple fires near Huslia amid high statewide activity
With all available Alaska crews either assigned or mobilizing to wildfires, additional assistance is arriving from the Lower 48. This includes the Southwest Type 3 Incident Management Team, which is slated to assume management of efforts to protect Huslia and numerous Alaska Native allotments in the fire area. Many of these allotments are located along the nearby Koyukuk River between Huslia and the affected area.
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Part of Salcha River remains in Level 2 “SET” status due to Ninetyeight Fire
Ten smokejumpers worked Saturday to protect structures and Native allotments along the Salcha River from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218).
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BLM AFS monitoring wildfire near Marion Creek campground at mile 180 Dalton Highway
BLM Alaska Fire Service is monitoring the Marion Fire (#295), a new wildfire burning approximately 7 miles east of the Marion Creek Campground near Mile 180 of the Dalton Highway 10 miles northwest of Coldfoot.
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More resources mobilizing to group of fires near Central, Circle
Firefighting resources – including a Type 3 Incident Management Team composed primarily of Alaskans – are mobilizing in response to extreme fire behavior from the Ikheenjik and Turtle Fires, which made a push toward the Steese Highway near Mile 140 by Birch Creek. Once in place, the team will assume management of a cluster of wildfires now grouped under the Ptarmigan Complex.
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Firefighters work to protect allotments, structures from Lush Fire near Rampart
The Lush Fire (#199) remained active until about midnight, fire managers said Saturday. The fire is still north of the Yukon River across from Rampart. It is estimated at 645 acres.
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Ready evacuation warning issued Friday in area surrounding Central due to uptick in fire activity
Due to increased fire activity from a group of wildfires burning near Central and Circle, State of Alaska Emergency Operations Center has issued a Level 1 “Ready” evacuation area impacted by the six fires in the area.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 