Author Archives
The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska (USWFS) is 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, USWFS 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. The U.S. Wildland Fire Service in Alaska provides wildland fire suppression services for America’s “Last Frontier” on an interagency basis with the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Military in Alaska.
-
Cabin protection progresses as weather moderates near the McDonald Fire
Size: 32,725 acres (no change) Personnel: 49 Start Date: June 8 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The forecasted weather should continue to keep the McDonald Fire (#119) tempered from what was experienced during the initial days of the fire. This… Read More ›
-
Wetting rains welcomed as progress made protecting cabins near the McDonald Fire
Size: 32,725 acres Personnel: 49 Start Date: June 8, 2024 Cause: Lightning FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The McDonald Fire received wetting rains early Wednesday morning. Similar conditions are expected throughout the day with scattered to numerous showers accompanying isolated thunderstorms in… Read More ›
-
BLM AFS Smokejumpers mobilized Tuesday to fire near Kiana
BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers responded to a wildfire Tuesday that that appeared to ignite on a Native allotment on the Kobuk River east of Kiana in northwestern Alaska. The Deviation Fire (#126) rapidly consumed a mixture of tundra and… Read More ›
-
Weather moderates McDonald Fire growth
Rain fell on much of the McDonald Fire area Monday night, with more predicted, giving firefighters time to prepare cabin sites along 5 Mile Creek in case hot, windy, and dry conditions return. Firefighters started clearing brush from around structures and getting sprinkler systems set in place in case the estimated 28,800-acre fire makes another push south toward the cabins south of the fire.
-
Water scoopers, more firefighters mobilizing to protect cabins from McDonald Fire southeast of Fairbanks
BLM Alaska Fire Service Smokejumpers and water scoopers mobilized Monday afternoon to protect a group of cabins threatened as the McDonald Fire continues to grow despite moderated conditions. The fire is estimated at about 24,000 acres.
-
Hot, dry conditions push McDonald Fire to an estimated 8,000 acres
The McDonald Fire (#119) burning 31 miles south of Fairbanks was active Sunday, growing to an estimated 8,000 acres thanks to hot, dry and windy conditions. While the winds diminished since Saturday, the warmer temperatures helped push the fire out from both flanks as it burned through stringers of black spruce.
-
Thick smoke plume seen from fire burning in a remote corner of military training range south of Fairbanks
he smoke from the McDonald Fire (#119) will likely be very visible for the upcoming days due to the continued dry, hot conditions.
-
BLM AFS firefighters working on small fire north of Beaver
Smokejumpers and the North Star Fire Crew are working on a small fire burning about 11 miles north of Beaver. The Ed Berg Slough Fire (#111) was reported by a commercial pilot Wednesday afternoon.
-
BLM AFS monitoring large tundra fire in Western Alaska
BLM Alaska Fire Service officials are keeping an eye on a large tundra fire burning in a remote part of Western Alaska. The Atchuelinguk Fire (#090) is burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge approximately 33 miles north of… Read More ›
-
Leading Alaska’s firefighting efforts: prepare now for the fire season ahead
Alaskans saw what happened in Canada last year, and they know it can happen here too. They recognize we need to prevent and prepare for wildfires across the state – from the time the snow melts until it falls again.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 