Tips to survive fire season

In the Municipality of Anchorage, fire trucks can connect to fire hydrants anywhere in its service area and get more water as needed. But in the Mat-Su Borough, most homes and lots of businesses have their own water and wastewater systems.

Out here, local lakes are often the place fire crews go when they need more water to fight structure or wildfires.

Although there is still a lot of snow and standing water on the ground, April 1 to Aug. 31 is officially fire season in Alaska.

Until the lakes thaw, firefighters in the Valley will be without this resource to fight structure and wildfires. Already, though, fire crews report they have responded to at least one structure fire that began when someone tried to burn off the dead grass and leaves left from last fall.

In retrospect, maybe it would have been a better idea to rake the yard and compost the fluffy piles of dead grass and leaves. Add to that your coffee grounds, eggshells, potato peels, etc. and you can make your own soil loaded with nutrients. (At the same time, a compost pile or a worm farm also can be efficient, cost-effective ways to embarrass your teen-age children.)

In urban areas Outside, commercial and many residential buildings include fire suppression systems that can help protect lives and property. But most structures in the Valley don’t have fire suppression systems. That means it’s up to us as property owners to make smart choices that do not put our property or our neighbors’ at risk.

There are a few suggested dos and don’ts to help survive the fire season:

• All fires must be monitored by one or more adults.

• Burn permits are required. After getting the appropriate permit, people must call the Burn Permit Recording at 761-6312 each time they burn and listen to the recorded information on closures, fire weather conditions and cautions.

• Burn permit holders must call the Division of Forestry Office — 761-6300 — each day they plan to burn.

• Mow lawns to less than 4 inches in length before burning.

• Make sure the garden hose will reach the entire area to be burned.

• Have a rake, shovel and several wet burlap bags to control the fire, in case of emergency.

• The borough also recommends creating 8-foot fuel breaks cleared down to the soil. Fuel breaks vary by size depending on what is being burned. The larger the area to be burned, the larger the recommended fuel breaks.

• Burning is not allowed during windy conditions.

• Completely extinguish the fire.

This year, residents looking for assistance in evaluating the defensible space around their homes may call the Mat-Su Borough at 373-8823 and schedule a free review — first come, first served basis — that will give the property an overall wildfire risk score. Though there is no obligation to cut down trees, the review also will identify beetle-killed white spruce and black spruce trees eligible for free removal via the wildfire fuel reduction Cost Share Program.

Sometimes though, despite our best efforts, fires do spread out of control. If you see a fire, or start a fire, that spreads beyond your control, always call 911 immediately.