Denali crews may burn brush piles along first five miles of Park Road through November

Denali National Park and Preserve said Wednesday that fire crews, equipment and smoke may appear near the park entrance through November. Crews are clearing vegetation along the first five miles of the Denali Park Road and may burn the resulting woody debris piles between 8 am and 6 pm, seven days a week.

Smoke may be visible from the Denali Park Road and the Parks Highway, the park said in its advisory. It urged visitors to use caution near active work areas and follow staff instructions.

"Pile burning will occur only when weather, fuel and operational conditions allow crews to safely conduct the work," the park said. Fire personnel will monitor burned piles until they are fully extinguished.

The park and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service are cutting, pruning and removing vegetation between miles 0 and 5. The piles are unsalvageable leftover wood. The park said the work reduces vegetation that could carry wildfire toward park buildings and other developed areas, and gives firefighters more options to protect people and infrastructure.

The park has burned debris piles at the entrance in past seasons, including from October 2025 through January 2026. Fire ecology staff will monitor this year's burn sites to study how pile burning affects surrounding forest plant communities.