About 60 percent of prescribed burning to reduce the threat of wildfire on military training lands in Interior Alaska is complete with the rest targeted for completion sometime in the next two weeks – as long as the weather cooperates.
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.
Burn operations planned on military training lands in Fairbanks North Star Borough to reduce wildfire threat
Starting as early as Saturday, the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS), in cooperation with U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK), could start setting prescribed fires on Fort Wainwright and the Yukon Training Area (YTA) to reduce the likelihood of… Read More ›
Burning operations planned for military training lands in Interior Alaska to reduce wildfire threat
The snow is quickly melting in Interior Alaska. The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service and U.S. Army Alaska will soon implement multiple prescribed fires on military training lands in Interior Alaska. As conditions allow, prescribed burning in the Donnelly Training Area, Yukon Training Area, and Fort Wainwright may continue throughout the spring. #RxFire
BLM AFS awards three contracts for Alaska village-based Type 2 wildland firefighting crews
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) awarded three contracts for Type 2 wildland firefighting hand crews based in rural northeastern and Interior Alaska villages for the 2020 fire season. The contractors selected will base crews in… Read More ›
Federal Alaska Emergency Firefighter requirements adjusted for 2020 season
Because the BLM Alaska Fire Service remains focused on the safety and well-being of our employees and the public, preparedness regarding medical, physical and training requirements for Alaska federal (BLM) Emergency Firefighters (EFF) were adjusted for the 2020 fire year… Read More ›
BLM AFS, USARAK burn woody debris piles from fuel break on military lands near Delta Junction
Update on Feb. 21, 2020: BLM Alaska Fire Service personnel completed burning woody debris piles in the Donnelly Training Area West (DTAW) between Feb. 9-12. They were able to burn the remaining 54 large, machine-built piles on the far west… Read More ›
BLM AFS seeks contracts for Alaska village-based Type 2 wildland firefighting crews
The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) is soliciting contracts for Type 2 wildland firefighting hand crews based in rural Alaska villages for the 2020 fire season. Multiple contractors may be selected to base crews in communities… Read More ›
BLM AFS 2019 Emergency Firefighter review
The BLM Alaska Fire Service uses Type 2 Emergency Firefighters (EFF)/Administratively Determined (AD) fire crews and single resource personnel to supplement its regular workforce in the event of wildfire emergencies. The program, which is separate from the State of Alaska’s… Read More ›
From the Last Frontier to the Land Down Under
Alaskan tapped as liaison during firefighting efforts in Australia After two days of travel from the northern hemisphere to the land down under, BLM Alaska Fire Service Associate Manager Kyle Cowan arrived in Sydney where he’ll be the be a… Read More ›
Alaska Fire Medic program: Taking care of firefighters in the field
Wildland firefighters face all kinds of hazards during fire season. When firefighters fall ill or get injured, getting them needed medical care is not a matter of simply calling 911. The nearest hospital is often a 300-mile flight away, pushing… Read More ›