Smoke from a cluster of four wildfires burning in southwest Alaska is impacting some Yukon-Kuskokwim communities in the area around Bethel and Dillingham. Residents in Togiak and Goodnews Bay reported heavy smoke in their communities early Tuesday afternoon. The smoke… Read More ›
McGrath
Local responders to Aniak plane crash praised; injured state forestry personnel recovering
Three of the four Division of Forestry employees injured in a plane crash in the Western Alaska village of Aniak on Thursday are recovering in Anchorage hospitals today while the fourth has been treated and released. The three individuals still… Read More ›
State Forestry releases 2020 Red Card and Refresher class schedules
The Alaska Division of Forestry has released its schedule of Basic Firefighter and Fireline Safety Refresher classes for the 2020 wildland fire season. Anyone interested in working as a Division of Forestry wildland firefighter or any support roles associated with… Read More ›
How do they to it? A closer look at the Incident Command System at the Mcgrath Fire Base
The Laguna Fire of 1970 scorched more than 175,000 acres east of San Diego, California, killing 16 people and costing taxpayers $234 million. Resulting studies of the Laguna Fire and other catastrophic fires found that failures in communications and management… Read More ›
“How Do They Do It?” A Closer Look at Fire Management in Southwest Alaska.
Southwest Alaska Area Fire Management Officer (AFMO) Seth Ross pedals his bike swiftly toward helibase. One of three nearby helicopters begins to spool up, its rotors gaining momentum as five initial attack (IA) helitack firefighters wait inside, ready. Ross motions… Read More ›
Weather hinders efforts to get firefighters on ground at Rainy Pass Fire
The Alaska Division of Forestry is trying to mobilize more firefighters to help contain a remote wildfire northwest of Anchorage that is burning a mile from a historic hunting lodge that also serves as a checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail… Read More ›
Wildfire near Rainy Pass prompts evacuation of remote lodge along Iditarod Trail
A remote wildfire northwest of Anchorage late Tuesday night prompted the evacuation of more than two dozen people from a historic hunting lodge that also serves as a checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Rainy Pass Fire… Read More ›
Southwest Area Wildfire Update: More new lightning-caused fires; firefighters protecting two gold mines, one village, cabins and allotments
Eleven new lightning-caused fires were discovered in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area on Friday and more new fires are anticipated as a result of thousands of lightning strikes over the past three days. More than 1,500 lightning strikes… Read More ›
Lightning ignites dozens of new wildfires in Southwest Alaska; more expected with more lightning
Widespread lightning has started at least 30 new fires since Thursday in the Alaska Division of Forestry’s Southwest Area around McGrath. A Red Flag Warning remained in effect for most of Southwest Area for more lightning on Friday and fire… Read More ›
Lightning strikes spark dozen new wildfires in Southwest Alaska on Wednesday
The Division of Forestry is actively managing numerous new and existing wildfires in Alaska’s Southwest Area. Twelve new, lightning-caused fire starts were reported in the wake of widespread thunderstorms Wednesday, increasing the number of active fires in the Southwest Area… Read More ›
Alaska Wildland Fire Information 