Take time to look out for fire danger

This editorial originally appeared in the Wednesday edition of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

On Tuesday, the federal Bureau of Land Management’s Alaska Fire Service put out its first “red flag” warning of the year, cautioning Matanuska-Susitna Valley residents of high winds and dry conditions that could aid the start of a wildland fire. It’s hard to fathom that the state’s fire season already could be underway, just nine days after temperatures reached 30 degrees below zero here in Fairbanks. But such are the peculiarities of what has been a notably odd winter.

And while the fire forecast for Fairbanks and most of the Interior looks a bit more promising than that in Southcentral and Southwest Alaska, it doesn’t hurt to start being careful with fire outdoors as the snow melts.

Across much of the state, warmer-than-usual temperatures have prevailed for much of the winter. In many places, especially the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, the lower Yukon and the Kenai Peninsula, the warm weather was accompanied by little to no snow, necessitating the rerouting or cancellation of winter events like the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and the Fur Rendezvous sprint mushing races.

In much of Southcentral Alaska, the ground is already dry — there is little of the ordinary snow cover that would provide a damper for wildland fires, especially as temperatures warm in the historically dry months of April and May.

The uncommon dryness has officials at the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center worried about the potential for an above-average fire season. In a fire season forecast released earlier this month, state officials reported that Southwest, Southcentral and Southeast Alaska have 50 percent or less of their usual snowpack at this time of year.

In the Interior, it’s a slightly rosier picture. In the Fairbanks North Star Borough, winter precipitation has been in line with historic averages, and there’s still snow on the ground nearly everywhere.

But the snowpack is just one factor among many. Unless summer precipitation is again well above normal, fire danger likely will be high for much of the summer. Given that reality, it’s time to remember to exercise caution when burning or dealing with potential fire hazards.

Fire season officially begins on April 1. From then through Aug. 31, open burns are illegal, and residents wishing to perform burning activities outside need burn permits to do so. Use of burn barrels is required, and you should check with the state Division of Forestry to make sure your barrel complies with state regulations — the division estimates 75 percent of barrels don’t.

Whether you’re performing an open burn before April 1 or using a burn barrel after — or barbecuing or operating a fire pit in a campground — always have water to put out the fire on hand and never leave it unattended. If you smoke, don’t drop cigarette butts or ashes outside fire-safe receptacles, and make sure they’re out before discarding them so as not to set other butts or flammable material inside on fire.

Even in a large state in which lightning strikes in remote locations can lead to big fires, humans cause the majority of Alaska blazes, especially those that threaten lives, homes and property. With the official start of fire season a few days away, it’s time to pay attention to wildland fire dangers.