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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.
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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.
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Number of fires in BLM AFS protection area increases for third day
BLM Alaska Fire Service continues to deal with new wildfires, most of which are burning in remote parts of the state and not immediately threatening identified sites of value.
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BLM AFS monitoring new fires in Western Alaska
BLM Alaska Fire Service is keeping an eye on a number of new wildfires burning in Western Alaska that were ignited after the lightning event that came through Alaska Monday night.
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Additional firefighters mobilizing for BLM AFS managed fires
BLM Alaska Fire Service is sending more resources to fires burning in Interior Alaska after a lightning-event moved through the state Monday, triggering more than 30 fires in the BLM AFS protection area that covers the northern half of the state.
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BLM AFS fielding reports of new lightning-caused fires in the Interior
BLM Alaska Fire Service is fielding numerous reports of new lightning-caused fires in Central Interior Alaska Monday afternoon, including one wildfire reported just south of Mile 100 of the Elliott Highway.
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Good neighbors
BLM AFS firefighters talk about their part in the international effort during Canada’s devastating fire season.
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Firefighters, communications personnel enhance weather station maintenance skills through training in Alaska
This essential training was part of a broader interagency venture to ensure that Alaska and other states in the country have the tools and resources needed to monitor key meteorological factors that lead to wildfires.
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BLM AFS firefighters respond to fires ignited during first lightning event of the fire season
BLM Alaska Fire Service firefighters responded to new fires, some ignited Wednesday by the first big lightning event to move through Alaska this season. None were immediately threatening any communities or sites of value.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 