State of Alaska Hazard Fuels Program

The State of Alaska, Division of Forestry & Fire Protection, manages an active Hazard Fuel Reduction Program. The objective is straight forward; remove enough vegetation (fuel) so that when a wildfire burns, it is less severe and can be more easily managed. Division of Forestry's protection responsibilities are geographically split into six separate areas. Each area plans and implements fuel reduction projects strategically identified through land managers, fire management, cooperative agencies, and wildfire protection plans.

Fire Crews specialize in creating shaded fuel breaks. Their expertise in fire behavior, fire line construction, use of chainsaws, and production output make them ideal candidates for project implementation.

Mechanical treatments with heavy equipment like roller choppers, excavators, or masticators are used when less precise or large scale fuel removal is required.

Prescribed Fire, or fire use, is also an effective way to carry out fuels reduction. Fire use has become an identified path for firefighter workforce development.

Division of Forestry's hazardous fuels reduction program has expanded in the past several years, receiving substantial funding from federal and state sources to create fuel breaks and defensible space around our communities. Alaskan fuel breaks have proven their effectiveness in several wildland fires, saving millions of dollars in firefighting costs and homes saved. As the demand for these critical projects increases to match our growing fire seasons, our capacity to implement projects must also increase. We expect to hire fuel reduction project managers within each area to assist with implementation. The positions will serve as advanced operational firefighters and lead hazardous fuel reduction projects.

Request for Interest  http://notice.alaska.gov/206873 

The Division supports multiple locations through out the State of Alaska for residents to dispose of hazardous fuels removed from property in efforts to mitigated damage caused by Wildland fires.

Community Wildfire Protection Plans