Alaska Senate passes wildfire evacuation color-code system

The Alaska Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 192 on Thursday, establishing a standardized color-coded evacuation system for wildfire emergencies across the state.

The bill, sponsored by the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee, passed 19-0 on final passage with 19 members present. Senator Kawasaki was excused from the session.

Senator Click Bjorkman, who carried the bill on the Senate floor, said emergency managers across the state requested the legislation to create a consistent way to communicate evacuation orders during wildfires. He noted there had been confusion in recent years about what system to use and how to implement it.

"This is really meant to streamline and codify a color-coding system and a system of communicating so that Alaskans across the state can know when they need to leave the area when there is a fire," Bjorkman said.

The bill amends the Alaska Disaster Act to establish three evacuation levels. Green means "Ready." Residents should prepare to evacuate if necessary. Yellow means "Set." Residents should be ready to move immediately, particularly those with livestock or equipment. Red means "Go." Imminent danger requires immediate evacuation.

Bjorkman cited the 2014 Funny River Fire on the Kenai Peninsula as an example of when the Ready, Set, Go system effectively communicated with the public. The fire burned parts of the Kenai Peninsula and threatened areas near Soldotna.

"Seeing the fireball and the cloud of smoke rise into the sky was impressive as an act of nature, but pretty terrifying for folks who had horses and vehicles in their homes that may have been in the path of that fire," Bjorkman said.

He noted that substantial fire fuel breaks built around the south end of Soldotna the year before were key to stopping that fire.

Bjorkman also referenced the 2019 Swan Lake Fire, which burned across much of the Kenai Peninsula. Visual maps with color-coded zones helped residents understand which areas were safe and which required evacuation.

"These types of visual representations on a map are key to clearly communicating with the public about areas that are safe and areas that are not," Bjorkman said.

Emergency fire personnel from around the state requested the standardized system because "it makes sense on maps and people know red means danger," Bjorkman said.

The bill now moves to the Alaska House of Representatives for consideration.