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 […]
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Tag Archives: Fairbanks
Early-season lightning strikes spark wildfires in Interior
May 22, 2019 
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State Forestry releases schedule of statewide firefighter training classes
March 19, 2019 Comments Off on State Forestry releases schedule of statewide firefighter training classes
The Alaska Division of Forestry will be holding wildland firefighting training classes at different locations around the state in April and May. The classes are for veteran firefighters who already have a Red Card, as well as rookie firefighters looking to begin a career in wildland firefighting. Classes are scheduled at Area Forestry offices in […]
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 […]
Continue reading Five Alaska wildfire crews heading south to assist in western states
July 10, 2018 Comments Off on Five Alaska wildfire crews heading south to assist in western states
With wildfire season cooling down in Alaska and heating up in the western United States, the Alaska Division of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service are deploying a handful of initial attack crews to the Lower 48 to assist with firefighting efforts there. Five initial attack crews will board a National Interagency Coordination Center jet in […]
Continue readingHigh winds turn house fire into 9-acre wildfire in Delta Junction
July 10, 2018 Comments Off on High winds turn house fire into 9-acre wildfire in Delta Junction
Wildland firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry are mopping up a 9-acre fire in Delta Junction today after a structure fire spread into the wildlands Monday night. The state forestry office in Delta Junction was notified of a structure fire on Hanson Road at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday. A helicopter and engines from […]
Continue reading Fire activity moderates on Zitziana River and Mooseheart fires
June 26, 2018 Comments Off on Fire activity moderates on Zitziana River and Mooseheart fires
Scattered rain showers over night were reported on portions of the Zitziana River (#133) and Mooseheart (#204) fires. Forecasted weather calls for mostly cloudy skies and scattered thunderstorms over the area of both fires today. Smokejumpers are positioned on Iksgiza Lake to assess and prepare cabins for structure protection should the need arise. Firefighters continue […]
Continue readingWildfire update: Activity increases on Zitziana River, Mooseheart fires; other fires winding down
June 25, 2018 Comments Off on Wildfire update: Activity increases on Zitziana River, Mooseheart fires; other fires winding down
An increase in fire activity was observed on the both the Zitziana River (#133) and Mooseheart (#204) fires Sunday afternoon. Significant activity was reported on the southeast and northwest corners of the Zitziana River Fire. The Mooseheart Fire, just to the west of the Zitziana, also became more active; mainly on it’s eastern side. An […]
Continue readingRound up of Alaska wildland fires
June 24, 2018 Comments Off on Round up of Alaska wildland fires
Cooler temperatures, higher relative humidity, and patchy cloud cover has moderated fire behavior on the Mooseheart (#204) and Zitziana River (#133) fires burning west of Fairbanks. The 144 personnel assigned to the two fires have completed a pump and hose lay for an indirect fireline, continue with their mop up of firelines around the cabins […]
Continue reading Alaska firefighters wrapping up work on several wildland fires
June 23, 2018 Comments Off on Alaska firefighters wrapping up work on several wildland fires
Alaska Division of Forestry and BLM Alaska Fire Service firefighters continue work on six staffed wildfires across Alaska. Cooler, wetter weather has moderated fire activity around the state allowing work to be completed on several of the fires. Here is a round up of the staffed fires currently in Alaska: Mooseheart Fire (#204) and Zitziana […]
Continue reading Warm, dry weather increases activity on Zitziana River Fire
June 22, 2018 Comments Off on Warm, dry weather increases activity on Zitziana River Fire
Thursday’s near-record warm temperatures led to an increase of fire activity along the north and northwest corner of the Zitziana River Fire (#133). Late in the afternoon, isolated group torching and some limited spotting was observed along the Zitziana River. The nearby Mooseheart Fire (#204) showed limited fire activity. The two lightning-caused wildfires burning approximately […]
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