A wildfire burning in remote Southwest Alaska is now estimated at almost 10,500 acres but fire behavior has moderated considerably as a result of rain, cooler temperatures and rising relative humidity. The latest acreage estimate for the Medfra Fire as… Read More ›
Alaska
Alaska wildland fires from 2015 still pose risks this year
A year after the second-largest fire season on record in Alaska, the 2015 fire season is still smoking. The Alaska Division of Forestry has detected 16 “holdover” fires so far this season, including one on Saturday that ignited the 8,130-acre… Read More ›
Escaped burn barrel fire in Mat-Su Valley destroys shed; illustrates importance of safe burning
The Alaska Division of Forestry got its first wildfire call of the season on Monday in the Mat-Su Valley when a fire in an unattended burn barrel with an inadequate fire break escaped into the wildland. The fire, at a… Read More ›
NPS seeks public input for proposed wildland fire management plans in 4 Alaska parks
The National Park Service is soliciting public input on the proposed development of fire management plans for 28 park units nationwide including four in Alaska — Glacier Bay, Klondike Gold Rush, Kenai Fjords and Aniakchak. The NPS has prepared a… Read More ›
2015 season approaching the 700-fire mark
While the 2015 Alaska fire season is closing in on the 5-million-acre mark and already ranks among the top 5 largest wildfire seasons on record – we’re at No. 4 right now and less than 200,000 acres from No. 2… Read More ›
Sockeye Fire now 94 percent contained
The Sockeye Fire is now 94 percent contained, with small sections of uncontained perimeter near the Susitna River, Willow Creek and Little Willow Creek. The more than 300 firefighters working the fire are patrolling and completing fire lines. The… Read More ›
Trout Fire on Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Showing Signs of Life
EAGLE, Alaska: The Trout Fire, which had no visible smokes for a couple of weeks, has come back to life and is now creating some smoke due to the hot, dry and windy conditions in Interior Alaska. The fire is… Read More ›
Sockeye Fire at 7,264 acres, 15 percent contained
Fire lines held yesterday against the south winds, and the remaining evacuations were lifted today as planned. The south winds have brought cooler temperatures and higher humidity, which are helping firefighters. The small increase in acreage occurred on the southwest… Read More ›
All Open Fires Prohibited in Kenai Fjords National Park
Seward, Alaska – Past and prevailing weather conditions have caused the Kenai Peninsula, including the Kenai Fjords National Park, to be extremely dry. Park officials have determined that it is necessary to prohibit the use of all open fires and… Read More ›
Sockeye Fire Update – Friday, June 19
Firefighters are making substantial progress on the Sockeye Fire, and several restrictions are being reduced today. Today firefighters will closely monitor fire lines and fire behavior as winds shift 180 degrees and begin coming from the south.The 7,066 fire did… Read More ›