(FAIRBANKS, Alaska) – Starting as early as Nov. 3, the BLM Alaska Fire Service and U.S. Army Alaska will be burning piles of woody debris created this summer during hazardous fuels reduction projects in the Donnelly Training Area (DTA) and Gerstle River Training Area (GRTA) south of Delta Junction. Burning operations may start as early Nov. 3 and will continue, as conditions allow, until Nov. 30.

Some of the piles are located in the GRTA approximately 20 miles southeast of Delta Junction. In the DTA, the piles are scattered throughout areas on both sides of the Richardson Highway and within two miles of Delta Junction. These piles were created during hazardous fuels reduction projects conducted by U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) hand crews to remove dead and decaying vegetation and black spruce in an effort to reduce the chances of a wildfire on military lands.[xyz-ihs snippet=”adsense-body-ad”]
The piles will be ignited when weather conditions are favorable and winds are predicted to direct the smoke away from populated areas. The BLM AFS and USARAK only conduct prescribed fires when precise weather conditions and site prescriptions are met and an approved burn plan is in place that includes a burn permit approved by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC).

The BLM AFS and USARAK are working with the ADEC and the National Weather Service to monitor smoke conditions and air quality during the planning phase to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal policies and regulations governing air quality.

For more information about the prescribed fire on USARAK lands, contact the BLM Alaska Fire Service Public Affairs Office at (907)356-5510, or the Upper Yukon-Tanana Dispatch Center at (907)356-5554.

[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

  army, blm, burn, debris, delta junction, donnelly, gerstle river, prescribed fires, training area