Mukluk Fire survivors near Tok have until Oct. 19 to register for state aid

People near Tok whose homes or essential property were damaged in the Mukluk Fire have until Oct. 19 to register for state disaster assistance, opened Aug. 18 under a disaster declaration Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued for the area.

The aid can go toward housing, personal property, transportation and temporary housing, along with emergency medical, dental and funeral costs tied to the fire. It was announced Monday on Tanana Chiefs Conference's weekly broadcast by Brooke Edwin-Orrison, a human resources technician at the organization.

Applications are taken at ready.alaska.gov or by calling 1-844-445-7131, weekdays 8 am to 4 pm. Anyone with insurance should file a claim first, because the grants can't duplicate what private insurance already covers. Initial rental help runs 30 days for renters and three months for homeowners.

The fire started Aug. 17 and has burned 7,335 acres, 29% contained as of Sunday. Evacuation orders were lifted Aug. 29. A firefighter task force counted 50 homes destroyed and 108 outbuildings.