Alaska raises wildfire alert as dry grass fuels 63 early-season fires

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection raised the state's wildfire preparedness to Level 2 on May 20, 2026, as rapid snowmelt exposed dry grass across Interior Alaska and the Railbelt. The state has recorded 63 wildfires burning approximately 368 acres so far this year.

Most fires are human-caused and concentrated in areas where snow has disappeared but vegetation has not yet greened up, the agency reported. The shift to Level 2 signals increased resource commitment and heightened caution statewide.

Dry grass and other light fuels are driving current fire behavior, a different pattern than the mid-summer forest fires Alaska typically faces. The early exposure creates ignition risks before the landscape greens up and moisture levels rise.

Alaska smokejumpers deployed to the Sawmill Creek Fire near Delta Junction in the Yukon Training Area after a campfire-related start. The fire is being held at small acreage but has produced visible smoke along the Richardson Highway corridor.

The division is urging extreme caution for rural residents, recreational users, and military training operations in Interior Alaska. Burn permit rules remain in effect, and the agency is asking property owners to clear flammable debris around homes.

"The risk to Alaska has continued to grow with the change in our climate that has both increased the risk of more severe wildfires as well as extending the length of the seasons," said Ky Holland, who has worked on wildfire preparedness for about eight years. "We're seeing fires earlier in the season and extending later in the season."

No major communities face immediate threats from current fires. The small acreage totals and active management have kept direct risks to nearby infrastructure limited.

Cooler or wetter weather over the coming weeks could reduce fire activity and allow vegetation to green up. Fire managers will continue to assess conditions as Alaska moves deeper into the 2026 fire season.