ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Agencies monitoring wildfires in Alaska have elevated the state from Preparedness Level 3 to Preparedness Level 4 out of 5 as wildfire activity grows across the state.
More than 30 new fires were discovered in Alaska over the weekend, bringing the total acres burned in the state to nearly 145,000.
Despite the fast increase in fire activity to the beginning of the month, Sam Harrel with the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (DOF) said the number of fires isn’t unusual because of those longer days.
“Warm, drying conditions, solar gain from our long days really helps to dry things out,” Harrel said. “This is also the time of the year for those afternoon thunderstorms to build up, and with those thunderstorms comes lightning, and so this is how we generate a lot of fires across the landscape in Alaska.”
While it isn’t unusual for the number of fires, what is concerning is how many fires broke out in a short period.
“It was a rapid shift in speed. From on Tuesday, we were around 3,000 plus acres for the year statewide, and now, here we are, Sunday afternoon, 106,000 acres plus just for the past seven days,” Harrel explained.
Harrel said because wildfire season is in full swing, burn permits have been suspended in several areas. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Kenai-Kodiak, and Copper River Fire Prevention Areas are under a burn permit suspension as of June 21, according to DOF.
“It’s that time of year that people are out and enjoying Alaska. It’s the solstice, the days are long, we endure our winters to enjoy this time of year. People just need to be safe in all of their activities,” Harrel said. “Please don’t leave your campfires unattended. Always be paying attention to what’s going on.”
Several fires are prompting evacuation orders.
BEAR CREEK FIRE
People in parts of the Denali Borough are being told they should evacuate, while others are being told to be ready to go or prepare because the Bear Creek Fire, burning just north of Healy, may be getting close to them.
The flames caused a short-term closure of the Parks Highway Saturday. Parks Highway has reopened with a pilot car leading traffic.
“The fire came up to the edge of the highway and sparked over on the other side, so there was fire on both sides of the highway generally between mile marker 270 and 272,” Harrel said. “Because of heavy smoke in the area and open fire right next to the highway, it’s unsafe for traffic to move through there.”
If you do have to travel through the region, you are advised to expect pilot cars and delays, he said.
GOLDSTREAM CREEK & BONANZA CREEK FIRES
Some people in the area of the Goldstream Creek and Bonanza Creek wildfire near the west end of the Fairbanks North Star Borough are also being asked to evacuate.
Harrel said this is not because the area is heavily populated, but it is a way for officials to move logging operations.
HIMALAYA ROAD FIRE
The Himalaya Road Fire is burning north of Fairbanks near Elliott Highway milepost 15, according to DOF. People in multiple areas around the fire are being told to evacuate, including Hayes Creek, which was added to the list recently. Other areas are being told to be ready to evacuate or prepare.
SAINT GEORGE CREEK FIRE
People in the remote cabin community in the Denali Borough’s Gold King area are being told they should evacuate because of the Saint George Creek fire, according to the Denali Borough.
This impacts people near to confluence of Gold King Creek and the Wood River to about 10 miles southeast following the Wood River, according to DOF. This includes cabins south of the airstrip.
SEVEN MILE LOOKOUT FIRE
An area near the Seven Mile Lookout fire near Tok are also recommended for evacuation. It is burning west of the Tok Cutoff near Mile 118.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to [email protected]
Copyright 2025 KTUU. All rights reserved.
