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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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Hot and dry temperatures persist on the McDonald Fire
Size: 50,262 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Sunday was another hot and dry day on the McDonald Fire with temperatures reaching a high of 82 degrees, with a low humidity of 24%. Firefighters continue to monitor burnout operations… Read More ›
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High demand continues for fire resources
Alaska-based firefighters including the Chena, Pioneer Peak and Midnight Sun hotshot crews, Gannett Glacier Type 2 Initial Attack Crew, North Star Fire Crew, and White Mountain Module are all deployed, as well as Alaska Smokejumpers, and Fire Specialists. With weather… Read More ›
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McDonald Fire managers extend response to the NW to include the Clear Fire
Size: 47,304 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – McDonald Fire managers have extended fire response to include the 3,565-acre Clear Fire (#204), about 15 miles to the northwest of the McDonald Fire. The Clear Fire is burning in proximity to… Read More ›
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Smokejumpers mobilize to new starts around the state
Fire managers prepositioned additional resources at the Smokejumper Base on Fort Wainwright with warm temperatures and high lightning activity forecast. There is high demand for the 70 Alaska-based smokejumpers and 54 additional smokejumpers from the lower 48. After yet another… Read More ›
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Lightning starts new fires near Fairbanks
Plumes could be seen from Fairbanks on Friday and Saturday afternoon from two new fires located on military lands, 15 miles north of the McDonald Fire. At 9 a.m. on Saturday, the Clear (#204) Fire was 300 acres with an… Read More ›
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Burn operations complete on the McDonald Fire
Size: 44,892 acres Personnel: 83 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Firefighter resources on the McDonald Fire have completed burn operations on the south side of the fire, west of the 5 Mile Creek cabins. Burn operations remove fuels between values at… Read More ›
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High lightning activity starts new fires in Alaska
The number of fires in Alaska is increasing, as several waves of thunderstorms with high lightning activity have been moving across the state in recent days. There were 74 active wildfires as of 4 p.m. on Friday with 10 new… Read More ›
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Firefighters continue burn operations on the McDonald Fire
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – With the assistance of a helicopter providing aerial ignitions, crews continued burning operations Thursday to protect cabins along 5 Mile Creek. The goal of these operations is to remove burnable vegetation in a controlled manner in front of… Read More ›
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McDonald Fire remains west of the Tanana River
Size: 39,706 acres Personnel: 73 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Persistent thunderstorms continue near the McDonald Fire, bringing winds to increase fire activity in both northern and southern areas. Firefighters implemented burning operations Wednesday to protect the cabins along the… Read More ›
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Firefighters maintain vigilant on McDonald Fire
Following several days of persistent thunderstorms, firefighters remain alert for another bout of gusty, erratic winds on the McDonald Fire Wednesday afternoon.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 