The fire season is heating up and has ushered in the first Red Flag Warnings of the season yesterday. A ‘red flag warning’ means that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring. Alaska Governor, Sean Parnell has designated April 30 to May 4 as Wildland Fire Prevention and Preparedness week.
"People can live compatibly with wildland fire if they are aware of and prepared for local fire conditions. The more populated and closer a community is to fire prone areas, the greater the need for a proactive approach and a community’s involvement in fire risk reduction activities." ~ Firewise Alaska Brochure.
Governor Sean Parnell has signed a proclamation designating April 30 through May 4 as Alaska Wildland Fire Prevention and Preparedness Week. In the Alaska fire-prone ecosystems, it is not a matter of "if" wildland fires will occur, but a matter of "where" and "when." Individual and collective prevention and preparedness efforts create a safer Alaska for the public and the firefighters.
While lightning-caused fires are part of a complex, natural process across the landscape, it is the unwanted human-caused fires that pose the most direct, but preventable, risk. Fires caused by various human activities are likely to occur in close proximity to towns, villages, and communities near undeveloped lands. Interagency firefighting personnel encourage you to prevent, prepare and be aware!
Prevent! Remember, it only takes a spark to start a fire! Be cautious with anything that could start a wildland fire- even the unexpected. Recreational activities, based on the time of year and weather conditions, may lead to unintentional fires. Learn about safe burning practices, debris burning, and burn barrels at: http://forestry.alaska.gov/burn/ and the DOF Youtube Channel.
Prepare! How Fast Can Your House Run?! Homeowners can take effective measures to protect their homes and property. Adopting Firewise principles can reduce the risk of damage or loss due to a wildland fire. Several resources are available including the Firewise Alaska brochure, Rural Alaska Fire Prevention movie, or a local Division of Forestry (DOF) office.
Be Aware! Fire Information Sources
The Interagency Coordination Center website provides current fire information, maps, statistics, and more.
Additional DOF information sources include:
http://forestry.alaska.gov/wildland.htm
http://www.facebook.com/AK. Forestry
http://twitter.com/ak_forestry .
Contact: Stefan Hinman 907-745-9520 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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