Firefighters are making solid progress on five staffed fires in Southwest Alaska. While ground resources work in conjunction with aerial support to push containment percentages up on staffed fires, several other unstaffed fires continue to grow. The decision whether or… Read More ›
lightning
Recent lightning sparks multiple new fires in Southwest Alaska
The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is actively managing numerous new fires in Alaska’s Southwest Area. 20 new fires have been confirmed after Monday’s widespread lightning in the region. Detection flights are planned to check on the location of… Read More ›
Red Flag Warning issued for Southwest Alaska until 10 pm.
6/17/2024 – The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for portions of Southwest Alaska in the vicinities of McGrath and Bethel including the western Alaska Range, middle Kuskokwim Valley and the Kuskokwim River delta. Ample lightning, paired… Read More ›
Nearly 5000 Lightning Strikes Statewide this Weekend
Thunderstorms moved across south-central and southwest Alaska yesterday and today with 1,754 strikes Saturday June 4th, and 3,009 strikes Sunday June 5th. Some of these ignited wildfires that have been detected and staffed by firefighters. To access lightning maps on… Read More ›
Crews, smokejumpers mobilize for two fires burning near Yukon River crossing
8 p.m., June 6 update The fire has impact and crossed the Dalton Highway between milepost 47-52 just south of the Yukon River crossing. The highway is open at this time. Use extreme caution when driving through this area due… Read More ›
Chalkyitsik Fuels Build-up Index hits record high
Rainfall across Alaska continues to avoid the Upper Yukon zone, with conditions at extreme levels predicted to drive fire activity across the Yukon flats.The Buildup Index (BUI) is the best indicator of seasonal severity and overall flammability in the boreal… Read More ›
A comparison of 2015 to 2004
This satellite image shows the wildfire situation east of Fairbanks on June 29, 2004. That year is generally considered to be the worst Alaska fire season on record. During June 2004 alone, a total of 216 fires and 1,153,257.9… Read More ›
Wildland Fire Roundup – Have a safe Memorial Day!
May 25, 2015 – Light rain and higher humidity have helped moderate the fire danger in parts of the state. However, lightning storms with little-to-no rain in the Eastern Interior sparked several fires in the Eagle area yesterday. Red… Read More ›