Rains reduce fire danger across Mat-Su

WASILLA — Firefighters got a chance to breathe a sigh of relief Monday as the first heavy rainfall hit the Mat-Su area, reducing fire danger across the previously parched area.

“This is our first real summer rain and it’s actually being able to get down into the moss and those deeper layers of soil,” said Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Sarah Saarloos on Monday.

The National Weather Service said rainfall was expected to continue overnight Monday into Tuesday, with showers tapering off by Tuesday morning. The weather is expected to clear up mid-week, with high temperatures again expected to reach the 70s by the weekend.

The recent rains have caused Forestry officials to reduce the fire danger to low, and Saarloos said staffing levels are normal, with no additional crew members on at this time.

“Overall it’s a relief and we can use this as a way to be able to kind of bring everything back to normal,” she said.

There are currently no burn permit suspensions in place, however burn barrels and open debris burns still require a permit. Warming fires smaller than three feet across are allowed without a permit.

Although the rain has provided much-needed moisture to previously dry forests, Saarloos said people need to remain vigilant.

“We want people to go through the full protocol when you want to start that burn barrel or do a debris burn,” she said.

And, Saarloos noted, it doesn’t take long for wildlands to begin drying out again.

“The one thing about our fuels in Alaska is with a little sun and a little bit of wind things can dry out quickly,” she said.

Saarloos said that although the reprieve from high fire danger is a welcome break, she knows the division still has a long summer ahead.

“Until the snow falls in Alaska we’re not out of fire season,” she said.

For more information about fire danger or burn permits, visit the Alaska Division of Forestry website at forestry.alaska.gov.