With another warm, dry day on the Kenai Peninsula, the Swan Lake Fire (#181) burning north of the Sterling Highway continued to grow. The lightning-caused fire was estimated at 3,500 acres after a reconnaissance flight Tuesday evening, an increase of… Read More ›
Alaska Division of Forestry
State forestry mopping up two lightning-caused wildfires in southwest, monitoring four others
Wildland firefighters continue work to mop up two lightning-caused fires in southwest Alaska while the State Division of Forestry is monitoring four other fires in the area started by lightning in the past two days. An eight-person initial attack squad… Read More ›
Lightning ignites multiple wildfires on Kenai Peninsula
More than 50 wildland firefighters are responding to a 121-acre wildfire on the Kenai Peninsula, one of several wildfires on the Peninsula started by lightning associated with afternoon thunderstorms Wednesday. The Tustumena Lake Fire (#179) is located in the Caribou… Read More ›
Lightning sparks new wildfires in southwest Alaska
A rash of lightning sparked three new wildfires in southwest Alaska on Tuesday, two of which the Alaska Division of Forestry is working to suppress and one that is being monitored. Approximately 3,700 lightning strikes were detected across Alaska on… Read More ›
Wildfire near village on Kuskokwim River draws vigorous response from state forestry
Wildland firefighters are working to contain and mop up an 80-acre wildfire reported Friday afternoon in western Alaska near the village of Napaimute on the Kuskokwim River. The Kolmakof River Fire was reported by local residents and passing aircraft at… Read More ›
State forestry monitoring three lightning-caused wildfires east of Tok
The Alaska Division of Forestry is monitoring three lightning-caused wildfires east of Tok, one of which is visible from the Alaska Highway near the Canada border. The biggest of the three fires, the McArthur Creek Fire (#133), was reported on… Read More ›
Early-season lightning strikes spark wildfires in Interior
Lightning has officially entered Alaska’s wildfire equation. Over the past two weeks, almost 5,000 lightning strikes have been recorded across Alaska, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center in Fairbanks, which tracks daily lightning activity in Alaska. That number includes… Read More ›
Firefighters mopping up small wildfire along Tazlina River near Glennallen
State forestry firefighters are mopping up a small wildfire that started near Glennallen on Tuesday. The 3 ½-acre Moose Creek Fire was 50% contained as of Tuesday night and the fire did not show any growth or spread overnight, according… Read More ›
State forestry battling small wildfire near Glennallen
Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry are currently working to suppress a small wildfire near the community of Glennallen. The Moose Creek Fire, estimated at about 1 ½ acres as of 5:30 p.m., is located on the north… Read More ›
Rash of human-caused fires ushers in Alaska wildfire season; burn suspensions issued, caution advised
Wildfire season arrived in earnest over the weekend with a spate of human-caused wildfires in Southcentral Alaska. The Alaska Division of Forestry responded to 13 fire reports on Saturday and Sunday, all but two of which were located on the… Read More ›