BLM AFS, in cooperation with U.S. Army Alaska, will burn piles of woody debris on military training lands in Interior Alaska Oct. 1-21.
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.
Yukon Flats wildfires remain very active second day in row
Wildfires in the Yukon Flats exhibited extreme fire behavior Thursday for the second day in a row – prompting smokejumpers to conduct burn operations to protect two Native allotments and a cabin.
Wildfires show extreme behavior in northeastern Alaska due to dry, warm conditions
While rains have swept through a majority of Alaska, they have largely avoided northeastern Alaska which remains the warmest, driest part of the state. The area hasn’t seen a new fire since July 29, but existing wildfires in the Yukon Flats remain very active while other fires in the rest of the state are largely dormant.
Fighting fire in remote, rugged Alaska is the dream for many firefighters
The Last Frontier is an experience that many firefighters never get. For the crews that do, it is a memorable experience that they regale their peers, friends and family with. Instead of digging miles of handline across ridgetops as done in… Read More ›
Final daily update for the Paradise Complex, firefighters continue to monitor fires in Central Alaska
While winds increased fire activity on the Snohomish and Hog Butte fires Monday, consumption was primarily interior to the fire perimeter. Fire behavior on the Paradise Complex has moderated to smoldering. No communities are threatened by fires in the complex… Read More ›
Paradise Complex fires continue to smolder, removal of equipment continues
While winds increased fire activity on the Snohomish Fire Monday, no communities are threatened by fires in the Paradise Complex of seven fires burning in Central Alaska. Winds did blow down trees and cause power outages. Firefighters are helping communities… Read More ›
2022 East Fork Fire highlights importance of proactive firefighting
The 2022 East Fork Fire is the largest fire in recorded history in the Yukon Delta area. Precipitation throughout the year usually prevents large wildfires around the area’s communities, but a recent drought lead to extremely dry surface vegetation that… Read More ›
Alaska cache gets supplies and equipment back in the fire fight
The Alaska Incident Support Cache, located at BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) facilities on Fort Wainwright, Alaska is one of 15 National Interagency Support Caches in the U.S. This is a national cache, that keeps $18 million on hand,… Read More ›
26- year old is the youngest and first-ever female Fire Boss pilot
Aerial firefighting is a dangerous job and few make the cut in this fast- paced adrenaline-fueled world. Water-scooping Single Engine Airtanker (SEAT) pilot Mikaela Young, a born and raised Alaskan, fits right in, with her desire to do anything that,… Read More ›
Northern Rockies Team 4 Assumes Command of the Bean Complex
Northern Rockies Team 4, led by Incident Commander Rick Connell assumed command of the Bean Complex of wildfires at 7 a.m. Sunday following shadow days and a transition with Northwest Team 7. As a part of the transition between the… Read More ›