Alaska wildfire crews tackle Nelchina Glacier Fire near Glenn Highway
Firefighting activity escalates in Alaska as crews target northern perimeter The Alaska Wildland Fire Information service has reported that fire activity continues along the northern edge of the 750-acre Nelchina Glacier Fire, located approximately four miles south of Eureka Roadhouse along the Glenn Highway. The southern and eastern areas of the fire have calmed due […]
Alaska State Forestry & Fire Department partner to reduce risk of wildfire
The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) is working with the Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) Wildfire Division to implement a shaded “fuel break” in the Anchorage Hillside area extending from Hilltop Ski Area Road to Prospect Drive. Known as the East-West Connector, this project was scheduled to begin May 5 and represents a […]
Alaska pension reform effort gains momentum among public safety workers
Alaska public safety workers push for return of defined benefit pension The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has reported that Alaska fire fighters are urging lawmakers to reinstate a defined benefit pension system to address recruitment and retention challenges in the state. Alaska is currently the only U.S. state without a defined benefit pension […]
Alaska wildfire prevention bolstered by federal-state partnerships
Woody debris disposal sites reduce fire risks According to the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, a collaborative initiative between the USDA Forest Service and the State of Alaska is addressing wildfire risks through the development of woody debris disposal sites. Six operational disposal sites in the Mat-Su and Denali Boroughs offer residents an […]
Alaska bans PFAS foams in firefighting under new law
Alaska firefighting departments required to switch to non-PFAS foams Alaska firefighting departments must cease using fire-suppression foams containing PFAS chemicals under a new law effective July 22nd. According to a report from Alaska Beacon, the legislation, Senate Bill 67, passed nearly unanimously and became law without Governor Mike Dunleavy’s signature. The law targets Per- and […]
Alaska firefighting efforts continue on McDonald Fire
McDonald Fire: Firefighters work on containment measures As reported by the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service on Saturday (June 22), firefighter resources on the McDonald Fire completed burn operations on the south side of the fire, west of the 5 Mile Creek cabins. These burn operations are designed to remove fuels between the […]
Fire behavior increases on McDonald Fire in Alaska
McDonald Fire activity escalates with warmer weather As reported by the Alaska Wildland Fire Information, the McDonald Fire exhibited increased fire activity on Saturday due to warmer, sunny weather. Smoldering and group torching occurred in some areas, burning through pockets of unburned vegetation and producing visible smoke. Two designated firefighters on the east side provided […]
Alaska’s wildland fire season commences with cautionary measures
Fire season underway in Alaska April 1 marked the official start of Alaska’s wildland fire season, a period extending through August 31 as mandated by state law. This five-month span is historically known for its susceptibility to wildfires, with the state experiencing the scorching of up to 1 million acres annually over the past two […]
