Recruitment for the 2026 BLM Alaska Fire Service Type 2 North Star Fire Crew is open until April 1. This entry-level crew provides a pathway to a career in wildland firefighting.
BLM Alaska Fire Service
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.
BLM Alaska Fire Service seeks wildland firefighting crew and suppression module contract proposals
Deadline is Nov. 10 for potential contractors to submit proposals to provide wildland fire crews and fire suppression modules based in northern Alaska.
Recruitment for 2026 rookie Alaska Smokejumper candidates is NOW OPEN!
The BLM Alaska Fire Service is looking for hard working, physically fit, intelligent and experienced wildland firefighters interested in becoming Alaska Smokejumpers. Job announcements open Sept. 29-Oct. 27, 2025 on USAJobs.gov for the 2026 fire season.
Cookies, kin, community, and coordination: BLM AFS Galena Fire Station wraps up a season to remember
As the fire season comes to a close in Alaska, the BLM Alaska Fire Service has shut down its remote station in Galena. After a busy season supporting 71 wildfires in the Galena Zone – BLM AFS’s farthest west protection zone – almost all personnel have either returned to AFS headquarters in Fairbanks, are working on fires in the Lower 48, or have finished for the season.
What triggered the wildfire surge across Interior Alaska around solstice?
More than 170 wildfires ignited across Interior Alaska between June 15 and 29 during the 2025 Alaska fire season, most sparked by lightning. Fueled by hot, dry weather and almost 83,000 lightning strikes near the summer solstice, several fires quickly threatened homes, disrupted highways, and triggered evacuations across vast distances.
Few staffed fires remain as firefighters demobilize across BLM AFS protection area
The number of staffed fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service protection area continues to decline. Most fires are now in monitor status. Some are being allowed to fulfill their natural ecological role, while firefighters focus on protecting nearby sites of value, transporting unneeded equipment back to the BLM AFS Cache in Fairbanks, or completing administrative tasks.
BLM AFS fire updates: Dry conditions linger in northeastern Alaska
While fire season is winding down in much of Alaska, eastern regions remain hot and dry, keeping fire danger elevated. A load of BLM Alaska Fire Service smokejumpers is mobilizing Monday evening to protect an Alaska Native allotment from the Christian Fire (#255), about 50 miles north of Fort Yukon.
Aviation resources prove critical to monitoring and operational planning on fires in northeastern Alaska
A detection flight yesterday flew several fires in the Alaska Fire Service (AFS) Upper Yukon Zone, which covers northeastern Alaska, to monitor fire behavior and activity. Daily helicopter reconnaissance flights on the Ptarmigan Complex fires are also helping firefighters determine future work and resource needs based on fire behavior.
Two fires declared out on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve; Ptarmigan Complex efforts remain focused on monitoring, restoration
A slight uptick in containment on the Ptarmigan Complex and two additionally fires declared out in the Upper Yukon Zone reflect the dedicated work of firefighters to actively monitor area fires and strategically respond.
Evacuation level downgraded to Level 1 “Ready” on the Middle and Lower Salcha River areas
The Middle and Lower Salcha River Level 2 “Set” evacuation notices has been downgraded to a Level 1 “Ready” due to moderated fire activity and work completed by firefighters to protect the cabins and other sites from the Ninetyeight Fire (#218). All Salcha River area evacuation levels are now at Level 1 “Ready,” which means residents should be ready for potential evacuation. The evacuation map and other information can be found on the Fairbanks North Star Borough Emergency Operations website at Fairbanks North Star Borough. Text WILDFIRES to 67283 to receive text notifications.
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 