Due to the low snowpack, dry weather, and lack of precipitation this winter, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) has issued a Public Order declaring an early start to fire season in DOF’s Coastal Region, which includes much of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. Fire season traditionally starts on April 1st and ends on August 31st. The order goes into effect on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 12:00 am.
Central Emergency Services Chief Roy Browning says there is little moisture and that most of the vegetation is dried out, raising the risk of wildland fire ahead of the statutorily designated fire season.
“We haven’t had those good soaking rains that we would normally have. Obviously, it’s been wintertime, so we’re not going to have that. And with the lack of snowfall, it hasn’t soaked into the type of vegetation. Then you’ll have that quick growth in which the ladder fuels the heat rises, and you’ll get those ladder fuels that burn the brush and catch the trees on fire.” Chief Browning says.
Areas of heightened wildfire danger include:
- Copper River-Valdez DOF protection area,
- Mat-Su DOF protection area,
- Kenai-Kodiak DOF protection area,
- McGrath-Southwest DOF protection area
- All of Southeast Alaska
Burn permits are required for these areas at all times during the fire season. Under Alaska Statute AS 41.15.010 Permits, this order applies to all state, private, and municipal lands within the region. Areas not specified in this order are not subject to this early fire season designation.
More information about burn permits is available at dnr.alaska.gov/burn.
The full Public Order, as authorized under AS 41.15.050 Fire Season, is available at: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=218695.
