Haines donation drive collects wood stoves and building supplies for Tok fire rebuilding

Haines-area residents are collecting stovepipes, small wood stoves, refrigerators, furniture, household items and building supplies for households rebuilding after the Mukluk Fire destroyed 50 homes near Tok.

The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection completed a structure-loss assessment on August 30 and reported that "50 single residences have been destroyed, as well as 108 outbuildings, garages, sheds, workshops, or other miscellaneous secondary structures."

That figure establishes confirmed home losses. It does not by itself say how many households remain without shelter, or which supplies each family still needs; the drive is collecting against that documented loss, not a separately confirmed housing gap.

The fire started August 17 near Tok, burned 7,335 acres and reached 29 percent containment. Evacuation orders lifted August 29. Crews are still repairing the damage firefighting itself caused, restoring dozer lines, ATV trails and roads. The division has extended fire season in the Delta, Tok and Copper River protection areas through 11:59 p.m. Sept. 14 because of continued dry conditions, keeping burn permit rules in force.

Most of what burned at Tok was secondary structures, and state disaster grants generally do not cover them. The state's fact sheet for this fire sets two ceilings: $22,400 for housing repair and another $22,400 for personal property, which covers tools, appliances and subsistence equipment. Registration closes Oct. 19, by phone at 1-844-445-7131, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The federal declaration for the Mukluk Fire, FM-5672-AK, carries public assistance only; individual assistance was not declared.

FEMA's donations guidance does not tell people not to give goods. It says not to begin collecting until there is a known recipient ready to accept them, to confirm what is needed before acting, and to be wary of anyone who says everything is needed.