Dry start to fire season

April 24, 2007

By Will Elliott

Frontiersman

MAT-SU - State, borough and city officials warn of increasing fire danger this month. With snow receding, winds, and a dry, sunny spring, dead vegetation is extremely susceptible to catching fire, a borough official said.

From now through Aug. 31, anyone planning to burn garbage, debris, vegetation or other materials without a burn barrel is required to obtain a burn permit from the Division of Forestry in Palmer. Residents planning to burn in a burn barrel do not need a permit, though they must abide by city, borough and state regulations and ensure that the fire is completely out before leaving the barrel, state fire officials said.

The division offers three classes of permits, covering everything from lawns and small bonfires to multi-acre clearing burns. Permits are available in person at Forestry's Palmer office, from local fire departments, or online at www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/burn/matsu_area_intro.cfm. The division maintains a hotline for burn permit requests at 761-6338.

Mat-Su Borough fire mitigation specialist Michieal Abe warns residents that this is one of the most dangerous times of year for fires.

&#8220When the snow melts off, it exposes all of last year's grass. That's a flashy fuel. With a little wind, it's gonna make things travel,” Abe said. &#8220It's very important now for people to watch out for the carrier grass and other dry vegetation that can carry a fire up into the trees.”

The borough's Wildfire Mitigation Program Office has issued further caution.

&#8220As our Valley population continues to expand, more homes are moving into what was previously woodland, creating a ‘wildland/urban interface,'” the borough Web site states. &#8220Most borough residents live in or adjacent to this interface. We like living among the trees. They block the wind and offer privacy. They also present a major fire hazard if not carefully managed.”

According to the Mat-Su Area Office of State Forestry, forestry and law enforcement personnel will be aggressively patrolling to identify the use of unapproved barrels or unattended burning.

&#8220Each year in the Mat-Su Valley, unattended use or use of unapproved burn barrels leads to high dollar loss,” the division's Web site says, &#8220including burned homes, automobiles, recreation vehicles, greenhouses and other outbuildings and creates a high threat to life.”

The borough and Forestry offer a number of fire safety programs.

Abe said the borough's Wildfire Risk Ratings program offers landowners a free fire danger assessment.

&#8220We meet with people about what they need to do specific to their homes, and also about how to retrofit their homes to improve their chances of surviving a wildfire,” Abe said. &#8220We work evenings and weekends, so we can help commuters, anyone. And we cover the whole Valley. I've been everywhere from Glacierview to Trapper Creek.”

Borough residents can call 373-8823 to make an appointment for this free service, or to learn about the borough's other fire safety programs.

The Division of Forestry offers an array of similar resources, from educational programs to grants to local fire groups. Residents can learn about current fire conditions through the division's Mat-Su Fire Prevention Office.

The division, in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies, also participates in the FireWise Communities program. FireWise is a national effort to encourage community planning for fire prevention, but also emphasizes the importance of designing communities that can survive a wildfire once it starts.

FireWise materials available from the division detail construction materials and techniques, maintenance, access and landscaping considerations, and a host of other preventative steps homeowners can take to maximize their property's chances of surviving a wildfire, even if emergency crews are unable to respond.

The division's Fire Prevention Office is near the north end of the Palmer Airport and the Old Glenn Highway at 101 Airport Rd. The office is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Friday, with weekend staffing during periods of increased fire danger. The number is 761-6300.

Contact Will Elliott at 352-2250 or will.elliott@frontiersman.com