UPDATE 10:30 p.m.: Fire managers are still gathering information about the cluster of five wildfires detected within 5 miles of Chena Hot Springs Road. Smokejumpers have hiked to and checked on three of the fires and will be spending the… Read More ›
Alaska Division of Forestry
State forestry wildland fire dispatcher Liz Wallace wins national award
Alaska Division of Forestry Wildland Fire Dispatcher Liz Wallace won the 2019 National Excellence in Dispatching Award from the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) in Boise, Idaho, it was announced Thursday. Wallace, a dispatcher for the Fairbanks Area station, had… Read More ›
Local responders to Aniak plane crash praised; injured state forestry personnel recovering
Three of the four Division of Forestry employees injured in a plane crash in the Western Alaska village of Aniak on Thursday are recovering in Anchorage hospitals today while the fourth has been treated and released. The three individuals still… Read More ›
Firefighters stop spread of wildfire started by burning motorhome near Soldotna
Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Kenai/Kodiak station were able to halt the spread of a small wildfire that was started when a motorhome caught fire Thursday afternoon near Soldotna. Firefighters responded to the fire at approximately 3:45… Read More ›
Four Division of Forestry employees survive plane crash in Aniak
UPDATE 7:45 p.m. – All four Division of Forestry employees that were injured in the crash have been medevaced to Anchorage with serious but non-life threatening injuries. Three of the individuals were medevaced to Alaska Native Medical Center and the… Read More ›
Rain brings end to burn suspension, except on Kenai Peninsula
With widespread weekend rain reducing wildfire danger across much of the state, the Alaska Division of Forestry is rescinding its near-statewide burn permit suspension everywhere except on the Kenai Peninsula, effective immediately. The burn suspension will remain in effect on… Read More ›
Dry conditions prompt wildfire safety warnings for Memorial Day weekend
With extremely dry conditions persisting across much of Alaska, wildland fire managers are asking the public to be mindful of the potential for wildfires during Memorial Day weekend. “For many Alaskans, Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer,”… Read More ›
Moose Meadows Fire 100 percent contained; crews continuing mopping up
The 56-acrew Moose Meadows Fire north of Wasilla was declared 100 percent contained as of 8:10 p.m. Sunday and crews are continuing mop-up operations today. More than 50 firefighters, including both the Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew and Gannett Glacier Fire… Read More ›
Crews hoping for full containment of 56-acre Moose Meadows Fire today
Firefighters worked until 11 p.m. Saturday and were back at it at 8 a.m. Sunday as they work to contain a wildfire approximately 6 miles north of Wasilla. The size of the Moose Meadows Fire increased from 42 to 56… Read More ›
Moose Meadows 40 percent contained; estimated at 42 acres
UPDATE 9:30 P.M. – The Moose Meadows Fire north of Wasilla is 40 percent contained. Crews are continuing to lay hose around the fire to provide a water supply that will help boost containment. Aircraft have finished aerial support efforts… Read More ›