Cooler daytime temperatures and afternoon scattered rain showers on Sunday helped minimize new fire starts across Southern Alaska allowing firefighters to make good progress on suppression efforts across the region. Firefighters responded to three new fires across Southwest Alaska including… Read More ›
Mat-Su Area Forestry
Cooler temperatures and forecasted rain showers across Southern Alaska bring potential relief to firefighters across the fire area
Initial attack activity was light on Saturday as firefighters responded to four new fires across Southwest Alaska including the East Redoubt (#310), the Tustumena Lake Fire (#311), the Montana Creek Fire (#312) and the Corkey Fire (#315). Fire crews will continue suppression… Read More ›
Fire crews responding to new fire two miles north of Montana Creek (mile marker 94) on the Parks Highway.
8:45 PM Update: With the support of aerial resources including heavy air tankers, water scooping aircraft and multiple helicopters, firefighters on the Montana Creek Fire are making good progress towards suppression efforts on the Montana Creek Fire (#312) this evening…. Read More ›
Red Flag Warning for Saturday in the Susitna and Copper river valleys
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. because of hot, dry, and windy conditions in the northern portions of the Susitna and Copper river valleys. In… Read More ›
State to Conduct Prescribed Burns in Mat-Su Valley Starting May 13
The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) will be conducting two prescribed burns in Palmer and Wasilla as early as May 13, weather and fuel conditions permitting. The prescribed burns will help eliminate grasses and brush in two… Read More ›
Lichen Fire summary video with clips of air tanker drops, helicopter with bucket and engine crews mopping up
With 100% containment and the fire in monitor status, this video summarizes the last 24 hours of initial attack and suppression response. The 2.5 acre #LichenFire begin in the vicinity of milepost 91 of the Parks Highway north of Willow… Read More ›
State forestry unveils new Q-400 air tanker to be used for 2021 Alaska wildfire season
Alaska’s wildland fire managers have a new tool in their toolbox this fire season – a Q-400 turboprop air tanker. The Alaska Division of Forestry typically has two Convair 580 turboprop air tankers from Conair Group Inc. of Abbotsford, B.C…. Read More ›
Prescribed Fire Training With Local Fire Departments Successful This Week in the Mat-Su Area
Wildland firefighters from the Mat-Su Area Forestry station in Palmer have taken advantage of favorable conditions and have conducted two prescribed burns this week. The first is the Sitze Road 15-acre prescribed burn that initiated during favorable conditions Monday afternoon,… Read More ›
Grass fires in Mat-Su Valley are evidence that exposed fuels are ready to burn
The recent, rapid snow melt has ushered in the grass fire season in the Mat-Su Valley. Property owners need to get a Division of Forestry burn permit and follow the safe burning guidelines listed on it if they are burning… Read More ›
Moose Meadows Fire 100 percent contained; crews continuing mopping up
The 56-acrew Moose Meadows Fire north of Wasilla was declared 100 percent contained as of 8:10 p.m. Sunday and crews are continuing mop-up operations today. More than 50 firefighters, including both the Pioneer Peak Hotshot Crew and Gannett Glacier Fire… Read More ›