An announcement eerily similar to this time last year: the National Weather Service has started issuing early Red Flag warnings. Right now, the Mat-Su is on alert for potential fire activity.
Paul Pelligrini with the State Division of Forestry said we could be in for another dangerous fire season…
Pelligrini: “It all depends on the precipitation we get from here on it, but as you can see looking out your window, our cured grasses are exposed and they’re higher and drier than they have been in 10 or 12 years. It’s the lack of snow pack that has let that happen. Usually these cured grasses are compacted and this year they’re more standing and available to a potential ignition source.
So it is possible 2015 could see a repeat of the colossal Funny River Fire?
Pelligrini: “Yes, of course it is. What happens with these cured grasses on the Kenai Peninsula particularly, but also on Kodiak Island, they are what give the fire its potential to move.”
Pelligrini said they’ve been training crews two weeks to a full month earlier than normal, and air support will be online soon. Pelligrini said helicopters will be in Soldotna by the end of April.
