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- Forest fires in Alaska, USA
Problems
Forest fires are common in Alaska between May and August, mainly caused by lightning and sometimes by human activity. They burn through black spruce forests covering the permafrost and frozen soil. Alaska does not fight all fires because it can help the environment by clearing debris, thinning trees, and creating new habitats. However, fires can also produce smoke that harms health and travel far distances.
Causes of forest fires in Alaska
Record-breaking temperatures and dried-out vegetation set the stage for significant fires in central and southern Alaska. In 2022, Alaska experienced record-breaking wildfires that burned more than 1.7 million acres of land, 50% higher than the average for the entire season. The fires were fueled by a hot and dry start to summer, with Anchorage having its second-warmest June ever. The region also had less snow over the winter, which made the vegetation drier and more flammable. One of the largest fires was the Lime Complex, which consumed more than 600,000 acres in the tundra. This fire was started by lightning, which increased in frequency and intensity in interior Alaska due to climate change. The fire forced the evacuation of some villages and cabins.
Gallery
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Timelines
2024
May 29
BLM Alaska Fire Service officials are keeping an eye on a large tundra fire burning in a remote part of Western Alaska. The Atchuelinguk Fire (#090) is burning in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge approximately 33 miles north of Marshall. Surrounded by bodies of water, it is located east of the confluence of the Nageethin and Atchuelinguk rivers. A BLM AFS firefighter who conducted an aerial survey of the area estimated the fire had burned about 1,000 acres of dead grass and brush. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. It was discovered on 26 May. 89 fires have burned just more than 6,000 acres across Alaska.
2022
According to a University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist, a wildfire scorched 153,505 acres near the Bering Sea mouth of the Yukon River is now Alaska’s largest tundra fire in 15 years and one of the largest in decades.
2019
The Swan Lake Fire was ignited by a lightning strike to a dead white spruce on the edge of the Moose River flats within the Dave Spencer Wilderness Unit of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
2015
The Sockeye Fire was a wildfire near Willow, Alaska, in 2015. The fire was active from June 14 to July 22. By the time it was contained, it had burned 7,220 acres. The fire primarily affected the community of Willow.
2009
The Alaska Fire Science Consortium (AFSC) was formed to facilitate the delivery and application of fire science research in Alaska. AFSC connects scientists, managers, practitioners, and communities to share knowledge and best practices on fire ecology, behavior, and management.
2004
Alaska experienced its most severe wildfire season, with 6.5 million acres burned by 701 fires. The Boundary Fire was the largest single fire, consuming 1.3 million acres. The fire season prompted reviews and revisions of fire management plans and policies.
1984
The State of Alaska adopted the National Interagency Incident Management System Incident Command System concept for managing its fire suppression program.
1982
The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center (AICC) was established to provide logistical and operational support for wildland fire management in Alaska. AICC coordinates fire detection, intelligence, mobilization, aviation, weather, and communications