Performance Details
Department of Natural Resources - Fire Suppression Preparedness
Mission
Ensure wildland fire suppression resources are in a state of readiness to safely manage wildland fires that pose a threat to life, property, and resources on State, private, municipal, and other lands negotiated through agreement commensurate with the values at risk.
Core Services
- Provide for the safety of the public and employees.
- Protect identified values at risk from wildland fire.
- Minimize the impact of fire on the public by reducing human-caused fire starts through education and enforcement, and hazard fuel mitigation.
- Ensure cost effectiveness through appropriate fire management.
- Provide a qualified firefighting workforce with the resources to respond to wildland fires.
Mission Results |
Core Services |
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Mission Results |
Core Services |
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Performance Detail
A: Result -Provide wildland fire management on state, private, municipal lands and lands negotiated through agreements. |
A1: Core Service - Provide for the safety of the public and employees. |
Target #1: Reduce the impact of wildfire smoke on the public by working to mitigate smoke concerns from fires near communities..
DEC issued seventeen wildfire related air quality advisories in 2023, though the majority were advisories for smoke impacting Alaska from fires occuring in western Canada. On July 30th, the first of several advisories for Alaskan fires were issued for central and eastern Alaska due to the 30+ new starts. Air quality in eastern interior communities such as Delta Junction and Tok were poor to hazardous in late July and early August. A series of fires near Nenana caused poor air quality in communites such as Clear, Anderson and Nenana. Fires in the Tanana Valley had potential to affect Fairbanks, but wind patterns kept smoke out of the larger community for most of the summer. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Target #2: Minimize lost work days for firefighters..
Recent trends have shown an uptick in tree-strike and chainsaw injuries on Alaskan fires. While the cause is unknown, there is a potential correlation with a decrease in the experience levels of fire personnel in recent years. Fortunately there we no critical injuries in 2023, but there were a several serious injuries including two tree strikes, burns to a firefighters hand and arm from steam in a water handling pump, and seven chainsaw injuries including a chainsaw cut to the face (though fortunately not deep). The Alaska fire medic program has been a robust, interagency program that trains and outfits fire medics who can be mobilized to fires when needed. Fire medics are crucial in Alaska due to the remoteness of the work, and distance and time that are required to get a patient to a medical facility. The BLM/Alaska Fire Service has been the lead agency in developing the program over the years, but with a change in the BLM`s national management of medical programs, DOF is taking more responsibility for maintaining its own fire medic program into the futur Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
A2: Core Service - Protect identified values at risk from wildland fire. |
Target #1: Contain more than 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Alaska"s heavily populated areas (Critical and Full Management Options) in accordance with the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan..
One of DOF`s key goals is to contain 90% of wildland fires at less than 10 acres within Critical and Full management option areas. In 2023, 100% of the 133 fires in “Critical” were contained at under 10 acres, though only 45 out of 66, or a below average 68% of fires within “Full” were contained at less than 10 acres, as has been the trend over the last 10 years. After a slow start to fire season,on July 24 storm systems generated over 18,000 lightning strikes in the Interior, leading to 30 new fires within 24 hours. By the end of August, 343 fires had burned close to 300,000 acres. Of the 343 total fires in Alaska,168 were human caused and 175 were natural, or lightning, starts. The string of lightning fires that started after July 24 accounts for the majority of the 21 fires that exceeded 10 acres in the “Full” management option, though there were also two coal seam fires which did not receive initial action due to firefighter risk. The number of fires during the week of July 24 overwhelmed initial attack capabilities, primarily due to a shortage of ground-based firefighters, and DOF had to prioritize initial action on fires that had the highest potential of threatening values. Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Target #2: Prevent the loss of identified structures to wildland fire, consistent with the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan protection level..
In 2023 the Anderson Complex, a series of fires burning near the community of Clear in the Denali Borough threatened numerous subdivisions, hundreds of remote structures along the Teklanika River, and the Clear Space Force Station. One uninhabited single residence was burned as well as a shed and garage on a separate property. There was also another remote cabin that was reported destroyed by the Pogo Mine Road Fire. Fire management agencies prioritize the protection of permitted structures and determine the chance of success of based on the location of fire start, weather, fuel characteristics, and fuels reduction work done in advance by homeowners to protect their own property. It is imperative that fire managers identify values at risk within the vicinity of a developing fire as soon as possible if they are to be protected. The Known Sites Database (KSD) is an interagency tool that houses the location of structures and other values, and is especially useful in rural areas where there is a lack of municipal structure records. Fire and land management agencies collect site data while in the field and enter it into the KSD. Thousands of sites have been collected over the last decade, and as more people move into the remote areas of Alaska, this project continues to expand. Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
A3: Core Service - Minimize the impact of fire on the public by reducing human-caused fire starts through education and enforcement, and hazard fuel mitigation. |
Target #1: Reduce the number of human-caused wildfires to below 3.5 fires per capita (per ten thousand) through active management of open burning timeframes and follow-up enforcement actions..
The DOF wildland fire prevention mascot “Spruce Moose” continued to make appearances this season at numerous public events throughout south central and interior Alaska in a continuing effort to brand the “Take Time to Learn Before You Burn” campaign and raise public awareness about the impact of human caused wildland fires in Alaska. Spruce Moose and his public education efforts are funded through two federally funded Wildland Urban Interface grants awarded to the DOF in 2019, and 2021. Despite a very active late wildfire season, no major human caused fires occurred in critical WUI protection areas as they did in 2015 and 2019. Of the 224 wildfires in DOF protection, 153 (70%) of them were human caused with 137 (90%) contained at equal to or less than 1 acre in size due to rapid responses from DOF and fire department cooperators, a strong public education program and enhanced patrols and compliance-enforcement actions. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Target #2: Increase the mitigation of hazard fuels through mechanical fuel treatments, prescribed burning, and hand-thinning as identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans..
This year multiple fuel breaks were implemented across Alaska.The Sunset Fuel Break, protecting the communities of Houston and Meadow Lakes, was contracted to a local vendor clearing approximately 112 acres and a fuel break to the west of Delta Junction treated 349 acres of hazardous fuels. Local government agreements have been established with multiple communities (City of Kenai, Denali Borough, Mat-Su Borough, City of Dillingham, City of Soldotna) to offset costs of hazardous fuel disposal.? With an increase in coniferous mortality caused by the Spruce bark beetle, disposal assistance is critical in providing the public with a safe and effective disposal option. In the past year, more Alaskan communities have been seeking DOF`s help with updates on CWPP`s, helping communities plan for wildfires and identify future fuel mitigation projects. In the last two years, the Division of Forestry has received approximately $17 million in CIP funds to execute fuels mitigation treatments. DOF anticipates receiving more funding in the future for these critical projects that help keep Alaskans safe from wildland fire. Implementing these proactive fuel mitigation treatments will require DOF to increase its capacity before seeing significant increases in treatment acres. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/09/2023 |
Target #3: Raise public awareness concerning hazardous fuels on private property through an increase in the number of completed Firewise home assessments..
DOF has continued to complete assessments statewide, though the number in 2022 was reduced to a Stewardship Forester vacancy. Stewardship Foresters initiated 53 new home Firewise assessments and completed 2 follow-up visits. Private homes were evaluated for wildland fire risks. Homeowners applied for WUI cost share grants to help offset the costs of reducing their risks. Approximately 5 acres of private lands were treated and $8488 in costs were reimbursed. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
A4: Core Service - Ensure cost effectiveness through appropriate fire management. |
Target #1: Minimize the cost per acre burned on lands in remote areas of Alaska in accordance with the Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan..
Fire managers use a combination of science and experience to make the appropriate decision on each fire as it is discovered. As each fire is reported, fire managers examine the weather collected from remote weather stations, determine the availability of vegetation to burn based on recent weather, and in some cases model fire spread probability based on the fire"s location. The probability of the fire"s spread to populated areas is estimated and managers make the decision whether full suppression of the fire is the preferred option. Cost/Acre is highly variable from year to year due to the fact that on large seasons, fires can get large (especially in rural areas) with very little expense, while in Urban areas small fires can be quite expensive, due to aggressive initial attack. Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
B: Result -Maintain and support adequate firefighting resources for response to wildland fires. |
Target #1: Fill the firefighting needs for the average fire season with Alaskan firefighters..
A successful program requires a trained, experienced Alaskan firefighting workforce combined with infrastructure, equipment, and logistical support. Within DOF Fire Management Areas, there has been a consistent turnover of fire managers, Type 3 Incident Commanders, Division Supervisors as well as dispatch and aviation personnel. Recruitment and retention of a qualified firefighting force within the DOF has been challenging due to the short season of employment combined with more competitive wages and benefits in the private and Federal sectors. Department Order 017 identifies that the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry provide a strong initial attack, management, and support capability to assure maximum efficiency is achieved for an average fire year based on the historical fire occurrence. As the complexity and length of the fire season increases, the need for experienced personnel to manage these fires has become even more critical. Extensive knowledge and training are necessary to make timely decisions about strategy and tactics. This is more critical as the urban interface environment and the responsibilities to protect lives, homes and communities continues to grow. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
B1: Core Service - Provide a qualified firefighting workforce with the resources to respond to wildland fires. |
Target #1: Provide wildland fire training to agency personnel, fire departments, and urban and rural communities..
DOF conducted 52 interagency classes across a range of subjects and disciplines, including mental health and emergency medical training. Extensive training is provided not only to state employees but also to cooperators such as local and federal government employees. There were over 600 cooperators, and 1100 EFF trained this year.? Online training is included in this number and remains a popular delivery method. The division hired 2 EFF entry level dispatchers to help fill basic personnel needs and provide training and employment opportunities. The five-person LTNP Helitack module was rehired in McGrath, providing the area with additional capacity to provide helicopter supported initial attack in the area, while providing the LTNPs with valuable fire experience. DOF hosted five academies in 2023, with 151 cadets successfully graduating. Sessions included two basic firefighter academies in Tok and McGrath, an intermediate firefighter academy, an engine academy and DOF`s first-ever aerial supervision academy. In combination with the hazardous fuels reduction program, 92 graduates were employed on fuels crews to complete hazard mitigation projects and as initial attack firefighters. Five more academies are scheduled for 2024, with 4 focusing on wildland fire operations ranging from entry level to intermediate and a prevention academy. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Target #2: Assist local area fire departments in preparing for wildland fire response by providing wildland fire training and increasing fire department capacity through the Volunteer Fire Assistance grant program..
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program has also seen an increase in funding and award amount from previous years. The aim of this program is to assist at risk communities and tribes to plan and address wildland fire reduction activities in their area. We have added an outreach position to this year`s program that we have previously not had the capacity for. Our goal is to increase the number of communities applying for funds and to increase the award amount to those communities. The addition of an outreach coordinator position has already shown increased interest in the program and provided specialty guidance in writing successful CWDG grants. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Target #3: Utilize Alaska vendors to supply equipment and services to wildfires..
In 2023, wildland fire response contributed to Alaska"s economy by utilizing 332 equipment and supply vendors, for over $12 million worth of services. These vendors provide services such as food, equipment, fuel, and other support needed to support wildland fire fighters in the field. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/07/2023 |
Last refreshed: 04/22/2024 05:00 pm