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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 issues fire restrictions for federal lands near Steese Highway NOAA Facility
The BLM on Monday issued a Fire Prevention Order prohibiting campfires, explosives and fireworks on federal lands in a fire-prone area of black spruce near Gilmore Trail north of Fairbanks and north of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facility site on the Steese Highway.
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East Fork Fire spots on west side of Andreafsky River
After another active day of burning, BLM Alaska Fire Service officials in Galena are reassessing efforts after the East Fork Fire, burning north of St. Mary’s, spotted on the west side of the Andreafsky River Tuesday afternoon. Alaska Type 2 Incident Management Green Team ordered to manage efforts on the wildfire burning north of St. Mary’s
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Midnight Sun hotshots mobilize for Hog Butte Fire in the Interior
The BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots today joined the efforts to protect a Native allotment from the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 39 miles southwest of Lake Minchumina. The fire was very active on the south… Read More ›
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Firefighting efforts expand as East Fork Fire north of St. Mary’s sees significant growth
June 7, 2022 afternoon update: Warm, dry and windy conditions continue to keep the East Fork Fire active.
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Smokejumpers mobilize to protect Native allotment from wildfire burning in Interior Alaska
Smokejumpers are mobilizing to protect a Native allotment from the Hog Butte Fire (#185) burning about 200 miles north of Anchorage. The lightning-caused fire ignited on Sunday and is burning in a limited management option area that as long as… Read More ›
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Efforts, personnel increasing on East Fork Fire north of St. Mary’s
People in St. Mary’s will see an increase in firefighting activity in the upcoming days as the BLM Alaska Fire Service Chena Hotshot Crew mobilizes to the East Fork Fire (#160) burning about 20 miles to the north. Due to… Read More ›
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Smokejumpers, water-scoopers corral fire burning near mining district north of Fairbanks
Smokejumpers and water-scooping airplanes were successful in subduing a wildfire burning in a mining district near Eureka about 77 miles northwest of Fairbanks Saturday afternoon. The efforts eight BLM and U.S. Forest smokejumpers and two Single Engine Air Tractors, or… Read More ›
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Smokejumpers protecting cabin, Native allotment from East Fork Fire north of St. Mary’s
Smokejumpers anticipate having a few days of work ahead of them to ensure the East Fork Fire won’t impact the allotment. Additionally, this will allow fire personnel to be in the area if they are needed to move to other allotments and cabins that need protection from the 2,000-acre fire burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. This lightning-caused fire started Tuesday.
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Smokejumpers wrapping up work on two new lightning-caused tundra fires in Western Alaska
Twelve smokejumpers are working on two lightning-caused tundra fires burning within 20 miles of Kotlik close to the Norton Sound in Western Alaska. The Hogback Hill Fire (#157) and the Pastolik River Fire (#158) were discovered by BLM AFS personnel aboard a fire detection flight Monday evening.
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First of seven BLM AFS Type 2 contract crews available for wildfire response
The Mooseheart Crew with assembly points in Minto and Tanana got the honor of being the first of seven BLM Alaska Fire Service Type 2 contract crews available for the 2022 Alaska Fire Season.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 