Burn permits reinstated Tuesday, May 17

WASILLA — Burn permits have been reinstated in the Mat-Su Valley as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry. The burn ban was issued on Saturday ahead of a hot, dry weekend that saw temperatures in the 70s.

Rain that began Monday evening lasted into the early hours of Tuesday, which helped ease the dry conditions.

While the ban has been lifted, fire officials urge residents to remain vigilant. A small wildfire on the shores of Matanuska Lake was quickly knocked down by crews early Monday. While still under investigation, initial indications revealed that the blaze could have been cause by a campfire, according to the division of forestry.