The State Forester for the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection rescinded the Emergency Burn Closure, which has been in place since July 2nd. The closure ends Thursday morning. The closure was implemented as the state experienced ongoing dry conditions. Recent widespread rains have moderated the fire activity and brought temporary relief to drought-stricken areas. As of this morning, there are 270 active fires in Alaska.
Despite the Emergency Burn Closure being lifted, local, state, Native, and/or federal agencies could continue to have local fire restrictions in place on lands under their jurisdictions. Individuals who access these lands for any reason are responsible for determining if there are restrictions in place before setting any fire, using fireworks, or burning any wood or paper debris.
Daily, the Division of Forestry looks at conditions to determine if a Burn Permit Suspension is warranted in a specific area and posts that information online. You can click on a map on that webpage to see if there is a burn suspension in the Forestry Prevention Area in which they live. Or they can call their local Forestry Area Office’s hotline to see if burning is allowed.
Despite the lifting of the Emergency Burn Closure, the Kenai Peninsula is STILL under a burn suspension.
Click here for more information.
Call (907) 260-4260 for the Kenai/Kodiak recorded burn hotline number.
