Don’t let the snow fool you, early start to wildfire season still expected

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Most years wildfire season in Alaska officially begins April 1, but this year both the State and the Municipality of Anchorage moved the date to March 17.

It was a smart move, according to Senior Captain Nick Davis with the Anchorage Fire Department who said conditions are still very dry.

“The little bit of snow that’s fallen…it’s kind of a false hope,” Davis said. “This does buy us a few days, but the warmer temperatures are coming. Within a day the snow could be melted and we are right back to those dry fuels.”

Davis said while there is more moisture on the surface, that’s not the case for fuels that can start aggressive wildfires.

“Big trees that have fallen down from the beetle kill and other things, they really don’t have that moisture deep inside. It takes a thousand hours to dry them out, well they’ve had that thousand hours over the last six months, so they are very dry inside,” he said.

Davis recommends homeowners start thinking about what they can do to keep their property safe, including removing potential fuel sources and establishing a safe perimeter around their homes.

The Anchorage Fire Department is providing free on-site consultations through its Firewise Home Assessment Program and accepting applications now.

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