Mat-Su, Kenai burn permits suspended as fire activity surges

Burn permits are suspended across Mat-Su and Kenai-Kodiak starting Monday as hot, dry, windy conditions and a surge in human-caused fires raise wildfire risk across Southcentral Alaska.

The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection suspended all burn permits in both areas. Debris piles, lawn burning, and burn barrels are prohibited. Cooking and warming fires smaller than three feet remain allowed but require extreme caution.

Between May 25 and May 31, the division responded to multiple new fires sparked by escaped debris fires, burn barrels, unattended campfires, and roadside burns. The Jonesville Fire near Palmer burned 1.7 acres on May 25. The Yentna Fire near Bulchitna Lake grew from 1 acre to 4.2 acres before firefighters brought it to 60 percent containment Thursday night. The Winkler Fire in Wasilla escaped from a burn barrel and burned one acre on May 29.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lower Matanuska Valley around Palmer and Butte on Monday from 1:00 PM until 10:00 PM. Any new fire starts may spread rapidly.

State law requires burn permits for open burning on state, private, and municipal lands from April 1 through August 31. Activities requiring permits include burning brush piles, using burn barrels, agricultural burning, and burning maintained lawns.

The suspension will stay in place until conditions change. Permit holders must call their area's burn permit hotline for current status. Mat-Su residents can call 907-761-6312. Kenai-Kodiak residents can call 907-260-4269. Permit information and suspension updates are available at dnr.alaska.gov/burn.