Wildland firefighters are scrambling to respond to multiple lightning-caused fires in Southwest Alaska as a result of thunderstorms the past four days. As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, 13 new wildfires were reported in the area around McGrath and Dillingham – five on Tuesday and eight on Wednesday – bringing the total number of current active […]
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Tag Archives: BLM Alaska Fire Service
More lightning produces more wildfires in Southwest Alaska
June 12, 2019 
Comments Off on More lightning produces more wildfires in Southwest Alaska
State forestry mopping up two lightning-caused wildfires in southwest, monitoring four others
June 6, 2019 Comments Off on 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 from the village of Shageluk was mobilized Wednesday to replace eight smokejumpers from the BLM […]
Continue reading Lightning ignites multiple wildfires on Kenai Peninsula
June 6, 2019 Comments Off on 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 Hills approximately 30 miles south of Soldotna. The fire was discovered at 6 p.m. by […]
Continue reading Lightning sparks new wildfires in southwest Alaska
June 5, 2019 Comments Off on 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 Tuesday, most of which was concentrated in southwest Alaska in a north-south line between Bristol […]
Continue readingWildfire near village on Kuskokwim River draws vigorous response from state forestry
June 1, 2019 Comments Off on 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 approximately 4:40 p.m. as a 5-acre wildfire burning on the north bank of the river […]
Continue reading Early-season lightning strikes spark wildfires in Interior
May 22, 2019 Comments Off on 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 approximately 2,400 lightning strikes recorded on Monday, the highest single-day total of the season. There […]
Continue reading Rash of human-caused fires ushers in Alaska wildfire season; burn suspensions issued, caution advised
April 29, 2019 Comments Off on 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 Kenai Peninsula and in the Mat-Su Valley. All 13 fires were human caused. One of […]
Continue reading Wildfire near Tok now estimated at 730 acres
July 24, 2018 Comments Off on Wildfire near Tok now estimated at 730 acres
A wildfire southeast of Tok had grown to an estimated 730 acres as of late Monday night and firefighters will be trying to keep it in check today with another day of near-record high temperatures forecast in the eastern Interior. The Taixtsalda Hill Fire (#357) is burning approximately 38 miles southeast of Tok and 16 […]
Continue readingWildfire southeast of Tok now estimated at 150 acres despite ongoing suppression efforts
July 23, 2018 Comments Off on Wildfire southeast of Tok now estimated at 150 acres despite ongoing suppression efforts
A wildfire southeast of Tok has grown to approximately 150 acres as firefighters on the ground and in the air continue efforts to corral the fire, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry. The Taixtsalda Hill Fire (#357) was reported as a 20-acre fire at approximately 12:45 p.m. Monday. The fire is approximately 38 miles […]
Continue readingWildfire southeast of Tok drawing swift response from state forestry
July 23, 2018 Comments Off on Wildfire southeast of Tok drawing swift response from state forestry
The Alaska Division of Forestry is currently responding to a wildfire southeast of Tok. The Taixtsalda Hill Fire (#357) was reported as a 20-acre fire at approximately 12:45 p.m. Monday. The fire is approximately 38 miles southeast of Tok and 16 miles southwest of the village of Northway. The smoke column is clearly visible from […]
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