Public Safety
RSSAlaska News tracks public safety coverage including law enforcement operations, emergency response, regulatory enforcement.
Red Flag Warnings blanket Mat-Su and Susitna Valley for solstice weekend
National Weather Service issued Red Flag Warnings for Mat-Su and Susitna Valley through early Saturday due to lightning risk, dry fuels, and humidity as low as 25 percent. Burn permits are suspended across Delta, Tok, and Mat-Su areas.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
The Grandview Fire has closed Swanson River Road and burned 30 acres near Sterling
The Grandview Fire is at 30 acres near Sterling. Swanson River Road is closed, the canoe route is offline, no evacuations yet.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Smokejumpers and the Chena Hotshots are protecting Native allotments from the Canyon Fire
Alaska's natural fire policy gets interrupted when a Native allotment is in the way. Canyon Fire is what that looks like.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Eklutna committed $196,649 to Anchorage for Halong evacuee public safety
Eklutna is paying for Anchorage's cops, fire trucks, and a camera. Tribe to city, oddly enough.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Coast Guard seeks contractor for Kodiak rescue aircraft life-support gear
Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak is hiring a contractor to maintain life-support gear on rescue aircraft serving Alaska's deadliest fisheries, with proposals due June 29.
by Melinda Communities.Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Second Fire in Two Weeks Ignites Near Ambler on Kobuk River
A second wildfire ignited Sunday near Ambler on the Kobuk River, less than two weeks after a landfill fire burned 1,447 acres in the same area.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Federal agencies warn Alaska seniors: government will never demand gift cards
Alaska seniors lost over 16 million dollars to scams in 2025, prompting federal agencies to warn that no government office will ever demand payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Man believed to be Portland hiker found dead near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail
A Portland hiker who called Alaska State Troopers lost near Ketchikan's Deer Mountain Trail on June 14 was found dead the next morning at the bottom of a cliff during a helicopter search.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Smokejumpers attack 75-acre lightning fire northeast of Fairbanks
Smokejumpers attacked a 75-acre lightning fire in tundra and black spruce 66 miles northeast of Fairbanks on Saturday morning.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Smokejumpers deploy to Star Fire near Eagle on Taylor Highway
Smokejumpers deployed to the Star Fire burning 5 to 8 acres near milepost 149 on the Taylor Highway south of Eagle, with 12 jumpers constructing fireline Thursday evening.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Smokejumpers stop half-acre fire across Yukon River from Circle
Six smokejumpers stopped a half-acre wildfire burning across the Yukon River from Circle on June 12, using hose lines and coordinating water drops to protect the nearby community.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska logs 13 new wildfire investigations in 72 hours
Alaska fire agencies opened 13 wildfire investigations in three days as a Red Flag Warning and burn permit suspensions took effect across Interior Alaska due to strong winds, low humidity, and dry fuels.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Petersburg fire training center relocation could cost $800,000-plus
Petersburg fire department must move its training facility from the airport by December 31, with relocation costs exceeding $800,000 and no confirmed funding source yet identified.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Petersburg police, fire face staffing crisis with 5 open positions
Petersburg police have three dispatcher and two patrol officer vacancies while fire and EMS rely on volunteers with limited actual response capacity, complicating plans to expand services to Thomas Bay.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Ambler landfill fire burns Native allotment, raises toxic smoke fears
A landfill fire that started June 4 in Ambler has burned nearly 1,500 acres including a Native allotment, with smoke from burning trash posing health risks to elders, children, and people with heart or lung conditions.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Delta Junction faces back-to-back Red Flag days with 55 mph gusts
Delta Junction faces Red Flag Warnings Saturday and Sunday with 55 mph gusts, 20 percent humidity, and dry grass ready to burn. Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection urges residents to skip burning this weekend.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Where Alaska's fire morels may pop next
Oh, Mushroom hunters / Information they kept close / Now for all to know
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Latvian climber faces mounting medical bills after Denali fall
A Latvian climber critically injured in a May 28 Denali fall that killed three teammates faces mounting medical bills as his insurance nears its limit. His family launched a fundraising campaign for months of treatment in Anchorage.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Tok suspends burn permits ahead of Chickenstock festival
Trying to enjoy chickenstock, and yes, that is a real thing, well, you better pre-burn your barrels. Cause that is no longer A-OK at this wholesome event.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Yenlo Fire crews defend cabin, equipment as 53-acre blaze nears Skwentna
Firefighters defended a cabin and equipment as the 53-acre Yenlo Fire near Skwentna reached 90 percent containment Wednesday, with crews demobilizing by Friday.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Smokejumpers, hotshots battle 52-acre Yenlo Fire near Talkeetna
A 52-acre wildfire north of Skwentna grew overnight from 10 acres, drawing smokejumpers and hotshot crews to protect remote cabins in the upper Susitna Valley while aerial tankers slow the human-caused fire.
by Alaska News3mo ago2 min read
Trump's announced $64 billion DHS funding would touch Alaska Coast Guard, Arctic security, and fentanyl interdiction — but the underlying bill isn't in primary federal records
Trump announced $64 billion in DHS funding that would affect Alaska's Coast Guard, Arctic security, and fentanyl interdiction, but the bill he cited does not yet appear in public federal records.
by Alaska News3mo ago2 min read
A wildfire that started in a village landfill has burned to within a mile of Ambler — and warmer weather is coming
Crews have reached 40 percent containment on the 1,447 acre Kopshesut Fire near Ambler. • Warming weather this week could push toxic landfill smoke into the village. • Residents should monitor air quality for health risks. • Check the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation website for updates.
by Alaska News3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly to consider letting licensed wildlife operators use air guns in city limits
Anchorage may let licensed wildlife operators use air guns in city limits — sorry, attic squirrels.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Mat-Su correctional-officer recruiting sessions run weekly
Alaska Department of Corrections holds weekly recruiting sessions for correctional officers every Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Mat-Su Job Center in Wasilla.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Mastadon Fire reaches full containment after drone-guided mop-up
The Mastadon Fire southeast of Talkeetna reached full containment Friday after a drone spotted the last patch of heat, letting ground crews finish the job same-day instead of waiting for the next morning's aircraft pass.
by Alaska Newsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Firefighters hold flare-up on Kopshesut Fire near Ambler
Firefighters held back a flare-up on the Kopshesut Fire near Ambler on Saturday, keeping it to about 1,500 acres and 20% contained as 68 personnel work to stop the spread toward the village.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago2 min read
Red Flag Warning covers inland Bristol Bay through Thursday
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for inland Bristol Bay through Thursday evening as warm temperatures, low humidity, strong winds, and dry grass created conditions for fast-moving wildfires.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Denali ranger dies in crevasse fall near 14,000 Foot Camp
Robin Pendery, a National Park Service mountaineering ranger, died Thursday after falling into a crevasse near 14,000 Foot Camp on Denali.
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Troopers arrest Nanwalek man on domestic violence charges
Alaska State Troopers arrested Terence P. Swenning, 27, of Nanwalek on Monday on domestic violence charges including assault in the presence of three children.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
Alaska training academy graduates 24 officers after 17-week program
Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy graduated 24 officers Wednesday after completing 17 weeks of training in Sitka, with recruits joining the State Troopers, Wildlife Troopers, State Parks, and municipal police departments across the state.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago2 min read
Anchorage man dies in ATV crash near Knik River
Brandon Ilutsik, 42, of Anchorage died Friday after his ATV crashed on a trail near the Knik River, Alaska State Troopers reported.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 3mo ago1 min read
North Slope approves $3 million police camera contract
North Slope Borough Assembly approved a $3 million five-year contract with Axon Enterprise to upgrade police worn body cameras and tasers.
by Tim Smith3mo ago2 min read
Man escapes Fairbanks facility; troopers seek public help
A man has escaped and they want him back
by Walter AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Canoe capsizes on Tolsona Lake; rescue raft overturns; all reach island safely
A canoe capsized on Tolsona Lake near Glennallen on May 29, a rescue raft overturned, but all occupants wearing life jackets reached an island safely and were picked up by troopers and fire crews with no injuries reported.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
Troopers investigate domestic assault in Napakiak under attempted murder classification
Alaska State Troopers are investigating a domestic assault in Napakiak as attempted murder after a woman reported being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Saturday evening.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
ADF&G warns moose attacks peak as calving season continues through June
Alaska Department of Fish and Game warns moose attacks peak through June as cows defend newborn calves, injuring more Alaskans annually than bears do.
by Bill AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Anchorage Assembly continues public safety commission hearing to June 9 after criticism of advisory-only powers
Anchorage Assembly postponed a vote on a proposed Public Safety Commission to June 9 after community members criticized it for lacking investigative power, subpoena authority, and ability to discipline officers.
by Cale Greenadded 4mo ago1 min read
State identifies man, officers in fatal Utqiagvik police shooting
Police in Utqiaġvik shot and killed 46-year-old Gordon Killbear Jr. on May 23 after he emerged from a barricaded room with a knife during a domestic violence call.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
Pedestrian dies after being struck by two vans on Glenn Highway near Boniface
A pedestrian died Tuesday morning after being struck by two vans on the Glenn Highway near Boniface Parkway, according to an Anchorage Police Department statement.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago1 min read
