No new fires were reported in the BLM Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) protection area on Sunday but two fires burning in the western Interior between Kaltag and Tanana remained active. Smoke from those fires is being blown into Fairbanks and areas north of Fairbanks, a scenario that is likely to continue for the next […]
Continue readingAlaska’s stubborn wildfire season persists with new fires, smoky conditions
Wildfire season refuses to wave the white flag in Alaska, as two new fires were reported in BLM Alaska Fire Service’s protection area on Saturday, one of which required a response from personnel based in Galena. In addition, a pair of wildfires burning in the western Interior continue to be active and heavy smoke from […]
Continue readingNew wildfires continue to pop up in northern Alaska
Wildfire season continues to persist in northern Alaska with the discovery of three new lightning-caused fires in the BLM Alaska Fire Service’s protection area on Friday. Two new fires were found in the Upper Yukon Zone and one was reported in the Tanana Zone. Surveillance aircraft discovered the Lower Birch Fire (#359) along the Yukon […]
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Smokejumpers work on old fire after it roars back to life
Activity on a 1-1/2 month old fire burning 48 miles southeast of Galena picked up recently, prompting BLM Alaska Fire Service officials to send 16 smokejumpers Wednesday to protect a cabin and Native allotments from the Khotol Fire (#183). A load of eight smokejumpers parachuted near a cabin that was about 1.5 mile from the […]
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Village crews help on Lower 48 fires
Sept. 2, 2016 – Five 20-person rural Alaska Emergency Firefighter (EFF) crews headed south late last week to help work on a handful of wildland fires burning in the Lower 48. Two crews from Chevak and one each from Hooper Bay, Kaltag and Huslia first landed in California near where the Alaska Interagency Management Team […]
Continue readingAll-woman engine crew makes history on Tetlin River Fire
Alaska wildland firefighting history was recently made on the 818-acre Tetlin River Fire south of Tok when three women from the Alaska Division of Forestry, Copper River Area office formed what is believed to be the first all-female engine crew in Alaska. Carrie Hale, Ashley Dale and Jenny Moser spent 2 ½ days manning – […]
Continue readingAlaska crews spread out across four states in Pacific Northwest
What’s the difference between fighting fire in the Lower 48 and Alaska? Well, there are several differences but one of the biggest is steep terrain, evidenced by these pictures taken by Steve Theisen that show the Allakaket Type 2 Crew working on the Clearwater Complex near Kamiah, Idaho. The Clearwater Complex in northwest Idaho consists […]
Continue readingAlaska firefighters headed to Lower 48
As Alaska moves into its seasonal rain pattern, wildland fire activity has moderated. The fire season in the Lower 48, however, is in full swing as the National Preparedness Level moved to five, the highest level of planning and organizing of resources in reaction to increasing fire danger. Firefighters from Alaska are answering the call […]
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