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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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BLM AFS weighing options on pair of fires south of Tanana River 7 miles from Manley Hot Springs
The BLM Alaska Fire Service is weighing response options to a pair of active fires burning south of the Tanana River about 7 miles southeast of Manley Hot Spring. Smokejumpers initially ordered in response to the Dry Creek Fire (#195)… Read More ›
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Three lightning-caused fires burning east of the Dalton Highway
While checking out reports of smoke from motorists driving the Dalton Highway Sunday afternoon, BLM Alaska Fire Service personnel aboard an airplane found three lightning-caused fires burning to the east of the highway. The Kanuti River Fire (#185), the Arctic… Read More ›
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Smokejumpers respond to two fires in White Mountains National Recreational Area
Update at 4:30 p.m.: The #MooseCreekFire (#162) has burned an estimated 61 acres and the nearby fire has a number and name. The #ZyryankaFire (#166) has burned an estimated 33 acres. Original information: BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers responding to… Read More ›
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Smoke visible from remote fire burning north of Dalton Highway Yukon River crossing
Dalton Highway motorists driving north of the Yukon River bridge crossing may see smoke from a lightning-caused fire burning 12 miles west of Milepost 83. The Doll Fire (#154) is burning in grass and tundra with nearby patches of snow… Read More ›
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BLM Alaska seeks comment on Alphabet Hills prescribed burn analysis
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on the Environmental Analysis for an Alaska Department of Fish and Game proposal to burn about 53,000 acres of wildlands in the Alphabet Hills near the West Fork, Gulkana and Susitna Rivers to improve wildlife habitat.
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Burn operations planned on military training lands in the Fairbanks North Star Borough to reduce wildfire threat
Starting as early as May 3, the BLM AFS, in cooperation with U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK), will implement prescribed fires on Fort Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area (YTA) to reduce the likelihood of a large wildfires occurring on military training lands this summer. The areas identified for the prescribed burns in the Small Arms Complex on Fort Wainwright are immediately southeast of Fairbanks on the south side of the Richardson Highway. The areas scheduled for burning in the YTA are five miles north and two to 20 miles east of Eielson Air Force Base. The prescribed burning may continue through May 31, as weather conditions allow.
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Burning operations planned for military training lands in Interior Alaska to reduce wildfire threat
Personnel could start ignitions as early as Thursday The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) and U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) will soon implement multiple prescribed fires on military training lands in Interior Alaska. Burning could begin as… Read More ›
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Solicitation period opens for BLM Alaska Fire Service Type 2 firefighting contract crews in Western Alaska
Potential contractors have until April 26 to submit proposals The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) is accepting contract proposals for Type 2 wildland firefighting hand crews based in Western Alaska villages for the 2021 fire season…. Read More ›
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A helping shot
Alaskan firefighting personnel support national vaccination effort Several Alaskan firefighting personnel including BLM Alaska Fire Service employees have stepped up to aid the effort to provide COVID-19 vaccinations across the nation. Five AFS personnel and an emergency hire sponsored by BLM in Alaska are working in support of a mechanism that allows utilizing firefighting… Read More ›
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BLM Alaska Fire Service recruiting for 2021 North Star Fire Crew members
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) is now accepting applications for the 2021 North Star Fire Crew. Based at BLM AFS headquarters on Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, the North Star Crew is a Type 2 training… Read More ›