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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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New fire near northern border crossing producing smoke plume visible from Top of the World Highway
A new fire is producing a very visible plume of smoke near the Canadian-U.S. Border, north of the Top of the World Highway Thursday afternoon. The Wood Fire (#330) is located about 2.5 miles north of the Boundary Airport, and about… Read More ›
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BLM AFS readies for uptick in fire activity as temperatures climb
Temperatures are rising in Interior Alaska and so is the fire danger. After a wetter than usual spring and most of summer, the ground layers and vegetation are drying out and becoming more susceptible to burning. Coupled with a forecast… Read More ›
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BLM AFS station in Fort Yukon readies for increased fire potential
The helicopter base at BLM Alaska Fire Service facilities on Fort Wainwright and Fort Yukon are buzzing with activity as firefighters, equipment and supplies are shuttled around central and northern Alaska.
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Firefighters finishing work on BLM AFS wildfires and regrouping for upcoming hot weather
Anticipating the upcoming hot weather for the Yukon Flats, which is climatologically the driest part of the state, BLM AFS opened its fire station in Fort Yukon today for the first time this season.
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Firefighters taking advantage of cooler weather to strengthen control lines on BLM AFS fires
Cooler, damper weather kept a cap on wildfires Sunday, giving firefighters on BLM Alaska Fire Service fires a chance to strengthen control lines and fire managers to move resources around to prepare for the predicted return of hot weather. There… Read More ›
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BLM monitoring lightning-caused fires on Interior military training lands
BLM Alaska Fire Service is keeping an eye on fires burning in a remote parts of the Donnelly Training Area west of the Delta River and the Yukon Training Area north of the Salcha River.
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BLM AFS wrapping up work on some fires, moving firefighters to other incidents
The cooler temperatures and less lightning are welcome in Interior Alaska as firefighting resources move around to more active fires or those threatening sites identified for protection. BLM Alaska Fire Service is wrapping up work on some fires and mobilizing… Read More ›
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Smokejumpers, helicopter working on new fire near Tolovana Hot Springs
Smokejumpers were deployed on a new wildfire about 1.5 miles northeast of Tolovana Hot Springs Friday evening. A BLM Alaska Fire Service helicopter used a large bucket suspended underneath to drop water on the fire before and after the four… Read More ›
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BLM AFS assesses response as lightning continues to spark new fires across Alaska
Isolated thunderstorms continue to cause mischief in Alaska, leaving lightning littered throughout much of the state and sparking more fires. With resources stretched thin and concentrated in areas that are closer to communities, BLM Alaska Fire Service is prioritizing response… Read More ›
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BLM AFS managers weigh priorities as wildfire numbers increase
While the number of new fires continues to increase, most new starts in the BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area are in remote parts of the northern half of Alaska.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 