Delta burn permits suspended Wednesday as fire conditions worsen

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection suspended all burn permits in the Delta Fire Prevention Area on Wednesday, citing low relative humidity, gusty winds, and dry fuels that could push any escaped ember into a fast-moving wildfire. The suspension covers both the East and West zones and carries no fixed end date. If you hold a permit in the Delta area, it is void until conditions change.

Under state law, burn permits are required for all open burning on state, private, and municipal lands from April 1 through August 31. Debris piles, lawn burning, and burn barrels are prohibited. Cooking and warming fires under three feet in diameter with flame lengths under two feet remain allowed without a permit, but the agency warns that "extreme caution must be used due to high wildfire potential should an ember escape, a fire be left unattended or it's not completely extinguished. Any new fire starts or existing fires may spread rapidly." The agency also cautions that even these exempt fires are not advisable on windy days or when red flag warnings are in effect.

The Delta Fire Prevention Area has seen multiple suspensions in the 2026 season. Permits were suspended for the weekend of May 16 and 17, again on May 26, and on June 4 alongside the Tok area; each time, the same low-humidity, gusty-wind pattern drove the decision. The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection instructs permit holders to call the area hotline to check current status before any burn.

To check current status, call the Delta Permit Hotline at (907) 895-5483 or visit dnr.alaska.gov/burn.