Mat-Su wildfire danger severe

MAT-SU -- Recent drought conditions have left the Mat-Su Borough in "high to very high" wildfire danger, according to a state Division of Forestry spokesman in Palmer.

"Even with some rain, the fire danger is still high," Mike Curran said. "The long-range forecast shows very little relief, even with some scattered rain showers in the last few days."

His assessment came after Curran consulted with the division's Mat-Su area fire prevention officer Chris Olson. On Wednesday, their opinions were confirmed as State Forestry and Mat-Su volunteer fire departments responded to five separate wildfires -- pushing the Mat-Su's total to 100 for the year, which is higher than the area's average.

The amount of rainfall received locally hasn't been enough to more than dampen things for an afternoon, Curran said, so fire officials aren't issuing burn permits for brush piles. Fires in burn barrels and at campground facilities are still allowed.

Light rain last weekend brought no more than short-term relief from super dry conditions throughout the borough, according to Curran, who is on loan to the Palmer office from his regular Division of Forestry post in Southeast

Alaska.

Part of the reason for his temporary transfer is because some Mat-Su personnel helped fight a large blaze near the Tok Cutoff. That fire threatened to reach some Tok-area homes on May 31, so help from Mat-Su was summoned.

"A five-engine task force left Sunday noon," Curran said. "They were going there for structural fire protection if required. They weren't sure what the winds were going to do on Sunday."

Engines from Sutton, Big Lake, Meadow Lakes, Wasilla and Central Mat-Su traveled to Tok, along with four extra local firefighters.

Increasing humidity levels slowed the advance of the human-caused fire, and by Tuesday an evacuation notice was lifted for residents of a small subdivision five miles southeast of Tok. The blaze, which began May 27, had charred more than 6,000 acres as of mid-week.

Meanwhile, there has been at least one fire a day in the Mat-Su during the past couple of weeks, but none has gotten out of control.

"The largest last week was the Caswell Lake fire, which was about six acres," Curran said. "They haven't been very big, but Caswell Lake was an example of the drought conditions. Even though there's been a little rain, the conditions are still dangerous."

Curran emphasized that Mat-Su's suspension of burn permits is less restrictive than a total ban. He thanked residents for taking the inconvenience in stride.

"We appreciate the cooperation from the public in obeying the suspension," Curran said. "We hope we will have their continued support."

He's not making any specific predictions on when the fire danger might ease.

"Probably not until a soaking rain, whenever that happens," Curran said.

Bill Gamble, District 2 fire chief, said similar dry conditions seem to have plagued the Mat-Su for several years.

"In fact, since 1995 this has become fairly typical for us," he said.