There is a current debate in Alaska among meteorologists, foresters, and other risk and safety professionals about whether snow on the ground has a direct correlation to the subsequent fire season. According to Norman McDonald, deputy director of fire protection for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, there is a correlation, primarily between an early start to the fire season and reduced moisture in the duff layer, earlier than in a normal spring. An early snow-free period allows surface and duff fuels (organic debris just below the forest floor) more time to dry, making them more susceptible to fires. However, significant rainfall in June can quickly reduce these risks. Additionally, the largest fire acreage in Alaska tends to be in El Niño summers, reinforcing the correlation between fire seasons and weather trends.

In 2015, the weather in Alaska was dramatic, with record-breaking warmth, wildfires, and flooding. Anchorage, Homer, Ketchikan, Kodiak, and Kotzebue had their second warmest year on record, while Juneau had its warmest year in more than seventy years. May was the warmest month on record in the Interior. Spring 2015 was the fourth warmest on record, with winter precipitation below average, including more rain than snow. Ketchikan experienced flooding in January, and freezing rain affected parts of the state during January and February.

Subsequently, the summer of 2015 was one of the busiest fire seasons ever recorded in Alaska, with 5.1 million acres burned, making it the second largest on record. The fire peaked between mid-June and mid-July, driven by a low snowpack, an unusually warm spring, and pre-greened fuels that were extremely dry. The snow melted up to three weeks earlier than usual in some areas. Although rain showers kept fire activity near normal levels through the middle of June, a heatwave in late June, with temperatures reaching 80°F, quickly dried surface fuels. Human-caused fires began mid-month, starting with the Sockeye Fire near Willow and the Card Street Fire near Sterling. A week-long lightning event, with more than 12,000 strikes daily for three days, sparked nearly 300 fires. By the end of June, 3.5 million acres had burned.

The winter of 2024/2025, a La Niña year, saw much lower-than-normal snow accumulation across large parts of Alaska. This left dry grasses and fine fuels exposed to the sun, creating a landscape primed for ignition much earlier than usual. With the US Climate Prediction Center forecasting warmer-than-normal temperatures for spring and early summer, this wildfire season could be one for the books.

The fire season typically begins with the “wind-driven” phase, which occurs between winter snowmelt and mid-June. During this phase, dry grasses serve as fuel, and most fires are human caused. Due to the lack of winter snowfall, the fire phase started early this year. In March, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection determined that “weather conditions, including warm temperatures and low snowpack across specific areas of Alaska, raise the risk of wildland fire ahead of the statutorily designated fire season.” The state forester determined that the fire season began on March 17, 2025; therefore, burn permits were required in designated areas.

Less than a week later, several human-caused grass fires in Kenai and Anchorage kicked off what could be a serious wildfire season. On March 13, two Kenai wildfires resulted from property owners’ failure to control burn piles, with the Scout Lake fire blamed on five unattended burn piles smoldering into the wildland. Two weeks later, the Anchorage Fire Department responded to a fast-moving grass fire at Carr-Gottstein Park, which threatened nearby homes overlooking the shore of Turnagain Arm. According to the Anchorage Fire Department, a backpack containing fireworks was found at the scene, leading investigators to believe the grass fire was likely started by juveniles with fireworks. Additionally, more than a dozen wildfires were reported in homeless camps within the city in March. These incidents illustrate the early-season wildfire exposures that bring a serious risk to large property in the region.

The duff-driven season, occurring between mid-June and mid-July, follows the springtime wind-driven phase. During this time, human-caused fires continue to occur, and lightning-caused fires become more frequent in the Interior. June is traditionally a drier month across the state, with high solar radiation drying multiple ground layers, increasing the susceptibility for ignition.

Mid-July to mid-August is the cumulative drought season and is characterized by the driest fuel conditions across all ground layers. Lightning strikes remain frequent, with more than 19,000 strikes recorded in a 24-hour period in 2023. Fire resistance to control and extinguishment are high during this time, and the season’s length depends on rainfall. If dry, the season can extend into August, but quenching rains can shorten the season.

The diurnal-driven season, which runs from mid-August to September, is driven by lightning and human-caused fires, with fire burn susceptibility influenced by previous weather conditions. This season ends quickly as solar radiation decreases, with September’s first snowfalls and freeze substantially reducing fire risks.

Property owners in the wildland/urban interface should take proactive steps to reduce the probability and severity of wildfires. These geographical areas, where human development meets undeveloped wildlands, require extra vigilance and planning in relation to wildfires. This begins with fire prevention and assessing the property for exposures that contribute to fire ignition, such as discarded smoking materials, campfires, burn barrels, sparks from vehicles, power equipment and tools, and improperly stored flammable items. It is critical to ensure that policies and procedures are developed to mitigate these exposures and educate anyone using the property about the risks of ignition. In addition, a readiness and evacuation plan should be created and implemented for all properties, and the plan should include provisions for visitors, transportation, and emergency supplies. Plans should be shared with local authorities, tested for adequacy and effectiveness, and reviewed annually before wildfire season.

Wildfire takes fuel to spread, so reducing fuels on the property is essential for reducing the wildfire risk. Creating a defensible space—typically a 100-foot buffer where vegetation is managed—helps protect structures and allows firefighters to respond effectively. Insurance companies have long recommended fuels reduction and defensible spaces around properties, and these recommendations and onsite property inspections are increasing in wildland–urban interface areas. Property owners who ignore the loss control recommendations for fuels mitigation and other wildfire risk reducing strategies may struggle to secure insurance coverage, as insurers are moving away from underwriting wildfire-exposed properties that don’t meet minimum risk-reduction strategies.

Wildfire resiliency requires a proactive approach that includes community preparedness and planning, fire-resistant building materials, and strategic landscaping. In Alaska, efforts are underway to create, enhance, and maintain Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) throughout the state. CWPPs are collaborative strategies that are developed with the participation of residents, businesses, community leaders, land managers, and fire personnel. The plans outline measures to protect people, property, and natural and cultural resources by reducing wildfire risk. Key components of the plan include hazardous fuels reduction, public education, structural ignitability mitigation, and improved fire response. CWPPs act as living documents that will help guide local governments and landowners in making informed decisions about wildfire preparation and management. While these plans will never completely eliminate the wildfire risk, their proper application and implementation can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of wildfires.

Communities are encouraged to become an Alaska Firewise Community, which is a partnership among local, state, federal, and private entities that is aimed at promoting fire safety in the wildland-urban interface. The Firewise Communities program equips residents with the knowledge and skills to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community protection. In addition, Community Wildfire Defense Grants from the US Forest Service are available to assist at-risk local communities, governments, tribes, nonprofits, state forestry agencies, and Alaska Native corporations. These grants provide up to $250,000 to create and update CWPPs or conduct outreach, and up to $10 million for associated infrastructure and resilience projects.

Another key aspect of wildfire resiliency in the wildland–urban interface is building design and construction. Using fire-resistant building materials—such as metal siding and roofing, fire-rated windows, and treated wood—can significantly reduce wildfire damage. Additionally, ember-resistant vents help by allowing airflow while blocking embers and flames. Since wood fencing can spread fire, replacing it with a metal or other fire-resistant option is strongly recommended. For new construction or renovations, incorporating these materials could not only improve a building’s chances of surviving a wildfire but also enhance insurability and reduce the risk of fire spreading between homes.

Adding supplemental water sources—such as tanks, cisterns, bladders, and rain barrels—is a smart wildfire preparedness measure. Some large property owners in Alaska have even purchased high-capacity water tanks and mobile tankers to support firefighting efforts. Staging extra fire extinguishers, both inside and outside of the home, is also highly recommended.

The Alaska Interagency Coordination Center, which is based at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks, coordinates resources, logistics, and predictive services for all state and federal agencies involved in wildfire management across Alaska. The center operates with partners including the US Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, US Forest Service, National Park Service, US Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. To strengthen wildfire response, the State of Alaska has made significant investments, including the 2024 “critical incentive pay” for wildland firefighters to aid recruitment and retention. The state is also strategically positioning resources and leveraging partnerships to boost operational efficiency.

In 2024, the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection led CWPP efforts in the Copper River, Delta, and Tok areas, while supporting planning in the Denali Borough, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Nenana, Tetlin, and Anchorage. These efforts included financial support, strategic planning, partnerships, and public outreach. As McDonald notes, “We are doing this to help protect communities and prevent Alaskans from facing the same large-scale, destructive fires that are seen in the Lower 48. Working together with all land management agencies on hazardous fuel reduction is a priority of the state.”

Preventing large, catastrophic wildfire losses will take more than these noble efforts alone. While lightning cannot be controlled or prevented, tools like fuel reduction, resiliency, and community planning can be highly effective if funded and implemented correctly. Many resources about wildfire planning, prevention, and preparedness are available online or by calling the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The greatest challenges in wildfire prevention lie in managing human behavior, which is inherently harder to control. In Southcentral, the highest wildfire risks come from homeless campfires, careless or illegal burning, and the illegal use of fireworks. Despite the danger, fireworks violations are often purposefully overlooked, with laws being unenforced and complaints by residents ignored. One stark example is the 1996 Miller’s Reach Fire near Big Lake, which burned 37,300 acres, destroyed 454 structures, and cost $16.5 million to extinguish. Property losses exceeded $15 million, and investigators were reasonably certain the fire was caused by illegal fireworks.

Real wildfire risks demand real accountability. To change at-risk behaviors, there must be renewed focus on and meaningful consequences for those who break the laws. Sociological studies, political posturing, and community meetings alone won’t prevent what could become Alaska’s worst fire season. The time to act is now—not later.

If you see smoke or fire, always report it immediately. Early detection can make the difference between a small fire and a major disaster.