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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.
Arrow GraphicMission Results Core Services
A: Provide wildland fire management on state, private, municipal lands and lands negotiated through agreements. Details >
  • TARGET #1: Provide safe, cost effective wildland fire protection services to the State of Alaska.
A1: Provide for the safety of the public and employees. Details >
  • TARGET #1: Reduce the impact of wildfire smoke on the public by working to mitigate smoke concerns from fires near communities.
A2: Protect identified values at risk from wildland fire. Details >
  • 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.
  • TARGET #2: Prevent the loss of identified structures to wildland fire, consistent with the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan protection level.
A3: Minimize the impact of fire on the public by reducing human-caused fire starts through education and enforcement, and hazard fuel mitigation. Details >
  • 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.
  • TARGET #2: Increase the mitigation of hazard fuels through mechanical fuel treatments, prescribed burning, and hand-thinning as identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
  • TARGET #3: Raise public awareness concerning hazardous fuels on private property through an increase in the number of completed Firewise home assessments.
A4: Ensure cost effectiveness through appropriate fire management. Details >
  • 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.
Arrow GraphicMission Results Core Services
B: Maintain and support adequate firefighting resources for response to wildland fires. Details >
  • TARGET #1: Fill the firefighting needs for the average fire season with Alaskan firefighters.
B1: Provide a qualified firefighting workforce with the resources to respond to wildland fires. Details >
  • TARGET #1: Provide wildland fire training to agency personnel, fire departments, and urban and rural communities.
  • 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.
  • TARGET #3: Utilize Alaska vendors to supply equipment and services to wildfires.

Performance Detail


A: Result -Provide wildland fire management on state, private, municipal lands and lands negotiated through agreements.
    Target #1: Provide safe, cost effective wildland fire protection services to the State of Alaska.

Methodology: Data collected from AICC Fires Data spreadsheet dated 11/7/23
RX and False Alarms filtered out.
Acres are acres burned in each option, not total acres burned from point of origin by management option (use management report option tab)
See AICC Intel Coordinator if having any issues.
Fire Starts and Acres Burned (thousands) - Statewide
Year
# of fires
Limited Acres
Modified Acres
Full Acres
Critical Acres
2024
374
527.606
107.070
32.166
2.18
2023
346
193.072
43.252
58.127
1.307
2022
590
3107.354
287.6
253.2
.114
2021
387
194.9
6.6
52.4
0.3
2020
340
162.0
9.7
9.2
.2
2019
722
2,260.5
220.1
176.8
14.8
2018
341
334.5
41.7
32.1
.17
2017
353
593.6
2.0
57.0
.16
2016
552
381.4
67.3
50.0
0.8
2015
766
3,465.4
552
1,057.5
70
2014
386
7.3
24.3
201.0
.2
2013
608
1,228.4
60.2
29.8
2.3
2012
422
243.5
14.6
9.7
2.8
2011
522
202.5
6.9
81.6
2.0
2010
696
841.6
211.4
53.9
18.6
Analysis of results and challenges: Fire Management Protection Options provide Alaska land management agencies with default initial suppression actions based on geographical location. "Critical" receives the highest priority for suppression action due to density of values at risk, typically around communities. "Full" recieves the next highest priority, and may include cultural and historical sites, private property, natural resource high-value areas, and other high-value areas. The default suppression action for "Limited" is to monitor the fire due to sparse values at risk, ecological benefit of fire, and cost savings. The "

Modified" management option is treated as "Full" earlier in the season when fires have a greater potential for growth and after management evaluation around July 10th, they are converted and treated as "Limited". These management options are meant as an initial guide only, and agency administrators may alter the response based on resource availability, values at risk, safety, ecological benefit or cost concerns.

Alaska`s 2024 fire season has been average, with 376 confirmed fires burning a total of 667,060 acres across the state. As snow melted in April and May, exposing cured grass and vegetation, the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) responded to a significant number of human-caused fires, mostly near larger population centers such as Kenai, Mat-Su, and Fairbanks. The state`s first large fire, the Popovitch Coal Seam Fire, which burned approximately 4,000 acres, was detected on May 17th and required a suppression response to prevent it from spreading towards values such as homesites and mining infrastructure.
In mid-June, lightning storms ignited dozens of fires in Southwest Alaska, prompting the deployment of statewide air and ground resources to McGrath to enhance initial attack capabilities and protect key values on some of the larger fires. A Type 3 team was deployed to manage a series of six fires near Red Devil, which posed potential threats to communities, allotments, and mining infrastructure. In July, a second round of lightning storms ignited fires in the central interior, leading to smoke issues and unhealthy air quality in Fairbanks as hot and dry weather created conditions conducive to large fire growth. The McDonald Fire, under the responsibility of the Department of Defense (DOD), was burning on military lands south of Fairbanks and had the most significant impact on air quality. This fire was allowed to burn due to its location within an impact area and the threat of unexploded ordnance. DOF assisted with protection efforts for identified state values, including cabins and campgrounds. During this period, multiple lightning-caused fires north of Fairbanks burned on state jurisdiction lands. Although predominantly on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lands, they were managed under the statewide agreement by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Alaska Fire Service. A group of fires, later named the Grapefruit Complex, threatened the community of Joy, the Elliott Highway, Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance crew camps, and the Trans Alaska Pipeline (TAP) infrastructure. An Alaskan Complex Incident Management Team was assigned to manage this incident, ensuring the highway corridor remained open and protecting values at risk. Two coastal region fires with significant potential were the Tustumena Lake Fire (35 acres) in Kenai and the Montana Creek Fire (159 acres) in the Mat-Su Area near Talkeetna. Both fires received a robust initial attack with aircraft and ground forces, which was crucial in catching the fires early and protecting the values at risk. Two Type 3 Incident Management Teams were assigned to fully contain and control these fires, both of which could have had serious impacts due to the population density and fuel types in the area.
When there was a shortage of Alaskan resources, the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection received needed fire suppression aircraft, crews, and overhead support from Canada and the Lower-48 through the Northwest Compact agreement. In particular, the statewide shortage of fire crews necessitated bringing up 15 Type 1 and Type 2 initial attack fire crews from the Lower-48 to bolster ground forces in June and July.
Related links:

Target Last Modified: 01/06/2025

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.

Methodology: AK Department of Environmental Conservation - Statewide
https://dec.alaska.gov/Applications/Air/airtoolsweb/Advisories/
DEC uses a sequential "F#" at the end of each advisory to notate from Wildfire.
For 2025, suggest working with DEC to see if there is a way to capture # days with hazardous air quality in population centers for this performance measures as a better metric? (mfb, 10/24)
Air Quality Advisories Issued Due to Wildland Fire Smoke
Year
Advisories Issued by DEC
2024
17
2023
17
2022
28
2021
8
2020
3
2019
40
2018
5
2017
6
2016
8
2015
69
2014
7
2013
20
2012
7
2011
2
2010
4
2009
25
Analysis of results and challenges: Wildland fire in the boreal forest of Alaska is inevitable. If fires burn near communities, the smoke from these fires may become a health issue for those community residents. In concert with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Alaskans are provided education of potential health impacts from wildland smoke. In addition, DEC issues Air Quality Advisories (AQA) when wildfire smoke may impact a community. Residents can use this information to make informed decisions on whether they should leave the area, take precautions in place, or not be concerned. Another opportunity to reduce health impacts from wildland smoke is to make fire management decisions on fires that can impact the amount of smoke produced. Examples of the range of actions that could be implemented include early season suppression on an ongoing fire to inhibit fire growth to the suppression of new starts within a defined geographic area in proximity to a community.

DEC issued seventeen wildfire related air quality advisories in 2024, the majority of which were triggered by smoke from the McDonald fire just south of Fairbanks. Starting on June 9th, several advisories for the McDonald Fire were issued for smoke affecting Central and Eastern Alaska with additional smoke coming from a fire just over the Canadian border. In mid-June, advisories for Southwest Alaska were added to due new fires burning in the Kuskokwim Mountains. By the end of June, smoke from fires in the Grapefruit Complex were added to the McDonald fire, creating more air quality advisories for of the Interior, along with fires in the Southwest and Western Alaska. Wetter weather in early July dampened smoke production in all fires across the the State, and only one additional smoke advisory was issued in late July for potential for smoke from fires in the Yukon Flats and coming in over the border from Canada.
Related links:

Target Last Modified: 10/08/2024

    Target #2: Minimize lost work days for firefighters.

Methodology: 2020 information from Safety Officer
# of employees non-perm, perm, EFF from Admin

2022: According to Safety Office, no lost days were reported.

*Employee #, Total Hours, Comp Claims: These numbers been recorded here, but no where else that I know of. They do not show up on any of the graphs or reports. Suggest working with DOF Safety for a better way to track and measure injuries for DOF. In 2024, the number of lost days included Forestry personnel, not just Fire. mfb 10/24
Firefighter Safety: Total Days Lost
Year
Employees
Total Hours Worked
Total Days
2024
0
0
31
2023
548
320174
212
2022
0
0
0
2021
750
0
86
2020
650
1,250
21
2019
1,037
5,589
209
2018
598
1,250
166
2015
1,496
2,094
236
2014
930
3,051.3
159
2013
434
910.6
391
2012
764
1,050.1
107
2011
720
993.2
409
2010
767
1,114.3
105
2009
749
1,000.8
326
Analysis of results and challenges: There is an inherent risk in all firefighting and fire support activities, from workplace to the field, where fire personnel encounter hazardous environments and inhospitable terrain while working long hours with hand and power tools. DOF continually strives to minimize risk to employees through training, communication, and utilizing a suite of risk management tools. The division`s training adheres to national wildland fire physical fitness and position qualification standards according to job duties. Mandatory training for all personnel includes an annual Fireline Safety Refresher, CPR/1st Aid and defensive driving training, and complement of OSHA training related to general workplace safety. Initial certification and daily tailgate safety sessions include proper use of firefighting equipment such as chainsaws, engines, forklifts, dozers, and safety analysis of firefighting facilities to mitigate hazards. The Incident Strategic Alignment Process (ISAP) is a new tool used to consider exposure and risk to personnel when developing strategies for fire management, and hazard mitigation processes are standard for incident management teams.

In 2024, DOF continued to see high numbers of Strains and Sprains, though most of these can be attributed to the inherent hazardous nature of wildland fire and the high physical demands. DOF has made early "season" awareness and Physical conditioning a high priority for its staff.

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 future.

Target Last Modified: 10/13/2024


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.

Methodology: Division of Forestry Protection Areas only. False Alarms not included. Source: Integrated Fire Management System and Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Predictive Fires Data Spreadsheet.

New fire classifications in 2024: Including WF, DF and NS. Not including FA or RX.
Percentage of Fires Successfully Contained at Less Than 10 Acres
Year
# of Fires in Critical
Success-Critical
# of Fires in Full
Success-Full
Overall Success
2024
122
98%
59
85%
92%
2023
133
100%
64
69%
85%
2022
0
99%
0
68%
92%
2021
177
99%
48
83%
95%
2020
126
98%
42
89%
96%
2019
202
95%
107
70%
86%
2018
111
98%
47
83%
90%
2017
102
98%
39
77%
87%
2016
179
99%
108
84%
91%
2015
223
99%
130
65%
86%
2014
235
99%
51
99%
98%
2013
286
98%
76
91%
93%
2012
257
99%
61
84%
95%
2011
261
99%
65
91%
95%
2010
223
97%
63
86%
95%
Analysis of results and challenges: Fire Management Options (Critical, Full, Modified, Limited) are geographic areas in Alaska that have predesignated initial response actions based on a fire"s point of origin, which help allocate available firefighting resources, optimize agency land use plans, and keep fire suppression costs commensurate with values at risk. The Critical and Full management option areas receive the first and second highest priority for fire suppression, and typically surround communities or areas with numerous values at risk.

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 2024, 98% of the 122 fires in “Critical” were contained at under 10 acres, and 50 out of 59, 85% of fires within “Full” were contained at less than 10 acres.

During a period with high fire danger IA resources were spread thin, two fires grew larger than 10 acres in the "Critical" management area; Montana Creek fire (159 acres) and Tustumena Lake fire (35 acres). Both fires were aggressively attacked with retardant and water dropping aircraft, and ground forces were able to contain the fires before any significant damage to values at risk. A lower-48 Type 3 incident management team was assigned to the Montana Creek fire to allow DOF resources to reset for initial attack.

Six of the nine fires in a "Full" protection area that grew larger than 10 acres were in the Southwest Area during a lightning burst that saw initial attack activity overwhelm resources and the capability to contain every fire. Fires in the Southwest are also further from firefighting resource bases, leading to longer response times. The Alaska Fire Management Plan allows for non-standard responses, so the strategies for some fires in "Full" management areas change to partial containment or point protection of values at risk to prioritize resources and keep suppression costs down.

Target Last Modified: 01/06/2025

    Target #2: Prevent the loss of identified structures to wildland fire, consistent with the Alaska Interagency Fire Management Plan protection level.

Methodology: Source: ICS 209s and FMO/Regional FMOs. Denali Borough provided specific information on Anderson Complex structures in 2023. AICC Intel desk can run a report to capture structures lost data. Filtering using only DOF protection areas.

*Other fields in chart have not been used since 2011, suggest removing them if not of value. mfb 10/18
Analysis of results and challenges: One of the priorities of the Division is to protect structures and the State"s infrastructure from the threat of wildland fire. In 2024, the only recorded structure lost was one outbuilding that was destroyed on the Montana Creek 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: 10/08/2024


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.

Methodology: In 2023, chart is using human caused fires within DOF protection vs. statewide as was done prior years.
AK Population = 2022 Estimate US Census (x number of human caused fires / (
733,583 / 10,000) = Fires per capita (per 10,000)

2024: New fire type classification: filtering for WF,NS,VF and DF in DOF protection areas to get # of fires (total, and then filtered for Human only).

2014 enforcement updated from Prevention chart 2015

2015 enforcement include citations, warnings and court

2016 enforcement only includes citations and warnings

2017-2023 information includes prevention actions warning, and citations


2022 -20 fires still listed as "undetermined"
Human-Caused Fires Per Capita (ten thousand)
Year
Human Caused Fires
Per Capita (per 10,000)
Total # of Fires
% Human-Caused Fires
YTD Total
Fires During Suspension
Enforcement Actions
2024
155
2.1
232
0
0
0
0
2023
153
2.1
224
70

0
229
2022
258
3.4
363
70

74
388
2021
205
2.8
248
83

14
260
2020
154
2.0
191
81

65
303
2019
251
3.4
423
59

91
93
2018
157
2.1
203
77

0
266
2017
200
2.7
353
57

0
195
2016
324
4.3
552
59

0
121
2015
350
4.8
766
46

0
186
2014
279
3.8
413
68

0
162
2013
339
4.6
451
75

0
81
2012
217
2.5
257
84

0
94
2011
301
4.2
346
87
0
104
174
2010
262
3.7
330
79
0
108
135
Analysis of results and challenges: The division`s fire prevention, investigation, and compliance-enforcement program continued to focus on, and meet its goal of reducing human-caused fires by 10% annually in critically identified wildland urban interface zones. The program was successful during the 2024 season in accomplishing this through various planning, education, engineering, investigation, and enforcement methods and platforms. One noted accomplishment was a ten-day wildfire prevention academy held in February of 2024 with students attending from across Alaska and from several different local, state and federal agencies. Through the knowledge and skills gained in the academy several of the students were employed in prevention, enforcement and/or investigation roles by the DOF prior to and during the wildfire season. The DOF wildland fire prevention mascot, “Spruce Moose,” continued to make appearances this season at numerous public events throughout South Central and Interior Alaska. This effort continues to promote the “Take Time to Learn Before You Burn” campaign and raise awareness about the impact of human-caused wildland fires in Alaska. As part of this initiative, a Spruce Moose comic book was created that educates the public about safe burning practices and the role of wildland firefighters in Alaska.

Spruce Moose`s public education efforts are funded through two federally supported Wildland Urban Interface grants awarded to the DOF in 2019 and 2021.
Related links:

Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024

    Target #2: Increase the mitigation of hazard fuels through mechanical fuel treatments, prescribed burning, and hand-thinning as identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans.

Methodology: Performance measures -Area and Grant
Federal fuels funding includes Western WUI program and USFS non-matching funds.
For 2023: added RX burns Delta Bison (917ac) and CRS McCarthy Pile (24ac)-
Hazardous Fuels Treatment Grant Funds as identified by Federal Grants and Acres Treated
Year
New/Updated CWPPs
Acres Treated
Federal Fuels Grant $
2024
0
400
0
2023
2
1470
$288,000
2022
2
717
$200,000
2021
14
155
$450,916
2020
3
201
$449,525
2019
5
1682
$2,027,539
2018
3
117
$671,150
2017
2
43.8
$867,259
2016
4
1,757
$67,500
2015
6
88
$600,000
2014
1
81
$849,200
2013
2
190
$800,000
2012
7
739
$517,930
2011
7
1,318
$2,053,500
2010
14
1,466
$4,140,000
Analysis of results and challenges: Strategic removal of hazardous fuel across Alaska included the completion of multiple projects, support of fuel disposal locations, and continued cooperation with local governments to better protect Alaska from escaped wildfires. Completion of the Anderson Fuel Break, Tok WUI, Harding Lake Campground, Glennallen (mechanical), and the Caswell project all totaled for more than 400 acres of fuel reduction. Phase 2 of the Delta River West and the Washington Creek (mechanical) projects are slated for completion during the winter of 2024-2025. An agreement with the City of Dillingham helped to bring their community landfill more resilience to wildland fire, and continued agreements with local governments across Alaska are treating acres experiencing high coniferous mortality as a result from the endemic Spruce Beetle. Facilitating opportunity for landowners to dispose of woody debris in a safe and effective manner at local disposal sites has been a benefit and is leading to more fire adapted communities in Alaska.
Related links:

Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024

    Target #3: Raise public awareness concerning hazardous fuels on private property through an increase in the number of completed Firewise home assessments.

Methodology: Area Total Performance Measures 2020
use both areas, PIO and stewardship
Home assessments = new + follow up visits (From Stewardship + Area Totals)
Prevention Presentations from Area Totals (Does not include smokey appearances)
Individual Home Assessments (Firewise)
Year
Home Assessments
2024
32
2023
55
2022
44
2021
176
2020
150
2019
213
2018
152
2017
65
2016
109
2015
3018
2014
2127
2013
1,817
Analysis of results and challenges: The Division of Forestry conducts individual site assessments to assist homeowners with determining if their property and home are defensible from wildland fire. This program, nationally known as Firewise, is an important way to educate the public as to the ways they can protect themselves from the impacts of a wildland fire. The division is actively promoting the concept of homeowner responsibility through these home assessments. In the past this effort was frequently in concert with local fire departments and governments. Homeowners must recognize and take responsibility for the dangers posed by living in a fire prone ecosystem and take appropriate steps to mitigate the hazard. These assessments evaluate and detail the work needed to make individual properties and homes Firewise. The program includes coordinated planning efforts at the local community level, homeowner education, and hazard fuel reduction through a variety of methods.

DOF has continued to complete assessments, though funding for the program was halted in 2016. In 2024, Stewardship Foresters initiated 15 new home Firewise assessments and completed 5 follow-up visits, while DOF Areas initiated 11 initial and 1 follow up assessment. Private homes were evaluated for wildland fire risks. Homeowners applied for WUI cost share grants to help offset the costs of reducing their risks. 27 acres of private lands were treated and approximately $1000 in costs were reimbursed.
Related links:

Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024


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.

Methodology: Due to IFM being replaced by WildCAD in the 2024 season, accurate costs were not able to be obtained for DOF fires at this time. Would suggest developing a new metric for future fire seasons vs. the urban vs. rural cost per acre to measure cost effectiveness. (MFB 10/240

Integrated Fire Management (IFM)
The costs include Critical, Full, Modified, and Limited
Fairbanks, Mat Su and Kenai - urban (several fire dept, more roads)
McGrath, Tok, VCRA, and Delta Rural (few fire dept, McGrath has few roads mostly air)
Fire Costs collected from cost estimates on AICC Fires Data Spreadsheet (dated Oct 31)
Cost of Fire Suppression Per Acre Burning
Fiscal Year
Cost/Acre in Urban Areas
Cost/Acre in Rural Areas
FY 2023
$213
$86
FY 2022
$176
$11
FY 2021
$119
$53
FY 2020
$3,546.00
$2.00
FY 2019
$436.02
$42.62
FY 2018
$7,133.88
$6,273.22
FY 2017
$9,928.91
$7,112.90
FY 2016
$673.70
$29.89
FY 2015
$200
$25
FY 2014
$11,418
$44
FY 2013
$522
$12
FY 2012
$836
$5
FY 2011
$7,677
$7
Analysis of results and challenges: *Due to DOFs use of a new national dispatching system, cost figures for individual fires were not available at this time in 2024. DOF will work on developing a new, more meaningful metric for cost effectiveness in 2025.

The inter-agency fire management community strives to protect human life, private property and natural and cultural resources, while allowing fire to follow its natural role in the boreal forest. This strategy allows for the protection of identified values while minimizing cost of fire suppression. Fires in the wildland urban interface tend to be expensive due to the large number of homes and businesses that must be protected. The division strives to balance the cost of fire suppression actions with the potential long-term impacts of fire exclusion. The limited protection option is designed for broad, landscape areas where low density and wide distribution of values to be protected best allows for fire to function in its natural role.

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: 10/13/2024


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.

Methodology: Alaska Interagency Coordination Center from IROC reports.
Resource Ordering Support System - only those individuals placed on a resource order are counted. Individuals utilized locally on initial attack are generally not placed on a resource order.
Crews include Type 1, Type 2, Type 2 IA and Suppression Modules(starting in 2023)
Percent of Alaskan Crews & Individuals Assigned to Alaska Fires / Total Needed
Year
AK Indiv. Assigned
Total # Assigned
AK Crews Assigned
% AK Crews
2023
1368
2042
27
38%
2022
1948

37
43%
2021
1887

87
94%
2020
849

48
81%
2019
1,522

76
29%
2018
548

31
100%
2017
1,484

70
100%
2016
1,797

116
66%
2015
2,634

448
48%
2014
320

31
75.6%
2013
1,521

94
81.2%
2012
725

65
100%
2011
2,017

122
89.1%
2010
484

83
85.3%
Analysis of results and challenges: The fire season of 2023 continued to show Alaska`s reliance on Lower-48 overhead and crews to fulfill critical roles in protection of Alaska`s resources from wildland fire, even with a moderate season. A total of 68 crews were ordered for fires within the state, with only 27 (38%) of them being able to be filled by Alaskan crews. Orders for 2042 overhead (individuals with advanced training to meet initial and extended attack suppression objectives) were placed, with 1368 (67%) of them coming from within Alaska. Filling overhead and crew orders from outside Alaska is costly due to the travel, lodging and subsistence costs, and the earned wages do not stay within the state. Each year it is becoming more difficult for DOF to maintain enough qualified personnel to staff to even a moderately busy fire season.

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.
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Target Last Modified: 01/06/2025

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.

Methodology:
Forestry = students+redcard+refresher
EFF, Federal, Fire Dept = Statewide Interagency + Lower 48 + OHSA + Total Students (from Areas).
Analysis of results and challenges: A broad range of training is provided to firefighters, ranging from introductory classes for first year firefighters to advanced training for returning firefighters and fire managers. Efficient, cost effective, safe, and successful initial attack relies on the highly trained seasonal firefighters, structure/volunteer local fire departments, local Emergency Firefighters (EFF) and crews. Annual training and certification ensure the safety and availability of this workforce when needed during fire activity and meets national standards which qualifies them to assist other states when needed.

In 2024, DOF conducted 33 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 1000 EFF trained this year. Online training is included in this number and remains a popular delivery method.
A 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 four academies and a statewide Basic Fire Fighter course in 2024, with 118 cadets successfully graduating. Sessions included a basic firefighter academy, an intermediate firefighter academy, DOF`s first-ever Prevention and Initial Attack academies. In combination with the hazardous fuel`s reduction program, 74 graduates were employed on fuels crews to complete hazard mitigation projects and as initial attack firefighters. Five more academies are scheduled for 2025, with 4 focusing on wildland fire operations ranging from entry level to intermediate and our engine academy.
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Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024

    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.

Methodology: Performance measures: local: refresher, red card, statewide OSHA, safety and 300 level

FEPP / FPP - inventory

VFA grants
Local Fire Department Personnel Received Wildland Fire Training
Year
Grant Funding to FD
FD persons trained
FDs Receiving Grants
2024
$259,198
871


40
2023
$171,713
1199


31
2022
$188,493
1176


40
2021
$154,248
1131


33
2020
$225,000
864


32
2019
$244,999
1479


42
2018
$277,123
1491

0
41
2016
$238,524
1,374

1,374
29
2015
$238,834
672

672
30
2014
$294,937
922

922
34
2013
$246,985
665

665
16
2012
$454,869
717

0
35
2011
$189,489
834


17
2010
$221,086
798


27
Analysis of results and challenges: The division must maintain firefighting personnel pools outside of its regular agency employees to meet the demand for qualified personnel each season. Local fire departments are a major component for initial attack (IA) forces within critical management option areas. In 2024, the division provided 40 fire departments, $259,198 through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program that the division administers on behalf of the US Forest Service. These grants are targeted towards equipping structural and volunteer fire departments for wildland fire response. Administering these grants as well as maintaining annual operating plans with each department and providing training for thousands of fire department personnel is a major workload each season.
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Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024

    Target #3: Utilize Alaska vendors to supply equipment and services to wildfires.

Methodology: includes equipment and supplies - lodging/meals, commodities including groceries
Vendor Income - is income/10,000
Alaskan Vendors Supplying Equipment, Supplies, and Services during Fire Suppression Actions
Year
# Vendors
Vendor Income
2024
319
$15,763,206
0
2023
337
$12,905,449

2022
412
$6,266,556

2021
394
$6,065,083

2020
52
$2,685,183

2019
387
$21,084,579

2018
185
$1,419,319

2017
540
$4,440,030

2016
995
$1,501,807

2015
1,000
$23,798,595

2014
451
$11,040,919

2013
626
$10,499,301

2012
425
$779,975

2011
867
$11,015,257

2010
765
$20,658,532

Analysis of results and challenges: Firefighting requires substantial amounts of equipment and supplies to be delivered in a short amount of time, often for only a very short amount of time. Therefore, the division has developed a program of emergency equipment rental agreements to provide equipment such as dozers, boats, ATVs, land use agreements, fresh food, and buses. This provides widespread economic stimulus to local Alaskan vendors. These vendors are hired locally, often from the community that is potentially affected by the fire.

In 2024, wildland fire response contributed to Alaska"s economy by utilizing 319 equipment and supply vendors, for over $15 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.
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Target Last Modified: 10/09/2024

Last refreshed: 05/16/2025 12:00 pm