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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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No reported injuries in aviation incident on Birch Creek Fire
No injuries were reported after an aircraft incident during suppression efforts on a wildfire about 120 air miles north of Fairbanks Tuesday afternoon. The airplane was scooping out of an unnamed body of water about 2-3 miles north of the fire when the incident occurred.
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BLM AFS smokejumpers mopping up fire northwest of Circle
BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers are busy mopping up the Birch Creek Fire (#346) after they and assisting aircraft were able to catch the Birch Creek Fire at 15 acres Tuesday evening.
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Smokejumpers respond to two new fires in Interior Alaska
BLM Alaska Fire Service Smokejumpers responded to two fires in rural Alaska in the last few days, emphasizing dry conditions still exist in some areas despite the wet, cold weather present in other regions. The Richmond Fire (#338) burning 39 miles north of Bettles is suspected of being human caused. It’s a reminder that people still need to be careful that their outdoor activities don’t ignite a fire.
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Alaska’s fire season shaping up to be a low year
Alaska is now past its historical peak of the wildland fire season and current and forecasted conditions are pointing to a below-normal fire season for the state, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center’s Predictive Services desk.
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Smokejumpers quickly take care of new fire near Fort Yukon
Smoke from the Sheenjek River Fire blanketed Fort Yukon Wednesday night. All three staffed fires in Alaska are located within the Yukon Flats. Click on link to learn more.
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Midnight Sun Hotshots mobilizing for fire north of Fort Yukon
The BLM Alaska Fire Service Midnight Sun Hotshots are mobilizing to protect a Native allotment from the Sheenjek Fire (#296) burning about 46 miles north of Fort Yukon. While other fires throughout Alaska remain dormant, the Sheenjek Fire recently came to life and grew substantially over the past few days, causing smoke to drift into Venetie about 37 miles to the west.
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Smokejumpers working on lightning-caused fires north of Galena, Venetie
Twelve smokejumpers and two water-scoopers were dispatched to take care of two lightning-caused fires Monday – one burning 25 miles north of Galena and the other 11 miles northwest of Venetie.
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With little rain in sight, work continues on Yukon Flats fires
Firefighters continue to make progress and get close to containment of three staffed fires in the Yukon Flats. This will be the last update on these fires unless conditions significantly change.
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Hotshots mopping up Alfred Fire east of Stevens Village
Utilizing an aggressive water air assault, two hotshot crews and eight smokejumpers were able to stop the growth of a fire burning east of Stevens Village at 83 acres Thursday. However, due to the fire spotting outside the main perimeter, the firefighters will need to seek out and make sure these spot fires are extinguished before calling the Alfred Fire (#215) contained.
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Erratic winds push Isom Creek Fire growth to roughly 5,000 acres
An isolated storm cell moved over the Isom Creek Fire (#187) late Monday evening bringing strong, erratic winds and light rain. Firefighters reported the rain had little effect, but the winds pushed the fire to the east causing significant growth… Read More ›
