Wildfire season begins in Southcentral Alaska as snow retreats

Nearly three dozen small wildfires popped up around the state in recent days, including one that drew a sizeable response in Eagle River on Sunday.

It’s the brown part of the Alaskan spring cycle -- that period between winter’s snow cover and the “green up” of spring grasses and leaves.

For now, the ground is covered by a carpet of flammable brush and leaves, conditions ripe for fire, officials say. They urged homeowners to clear debris and exercise caution with ignition sources.

The dead branches and leaf litter are “susceptible to any spark,” said Sam Harrel, an information officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry. “We could even get a spark left behind by someone who’s on a four-wheeler or something and they might not even know that they left a spark behind and it just sort of peaks and goes.”

So far this season, 33 small fires burned just over 7 acres in Anchorage, Mat-Su, the Kenai Peninsula and Fairbanks, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report.

Crews on Sunday evening contained a fire in Eagle River that burned through just under an acre of brush and timber, Harrel said.

The Anchorage Fire Department notified the Division of Forestry of the human-caused fire burning in brush toward the trees, according to an update on a statewide fire report. Two Forestry engines, a helicopter and firefighters responded, established unified command with the fire department, and knocked down the fire.

A wildfire in Southwest Alaska has spread to more than 10,300 acres so far within the last month but has not threatened any homes.

Early in the season, nearly all fires are caused by people, officials say. Lightning-caused fires generally occur later in the season.

Harrel recommended Alaskans start cleaning debris and flammable material from their yards and away from their homes.

“Make sure you don’t have any dry debris underneath your deck that will catch a spark and take care of your yard,” he said. “And then think of your neighbors -- especially the elderly folks in your neighborhood who might not be able to get out and get their yard clean.”