National Park Service reports 600-acre Kathul Fire in Alaska's Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve; smokejumpers deploy protection measures around Washington Creek cabin

May 27, 2025 (press release) –

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News Release Date: May 27, 2025

Contact: Jason Devcich, 907-455-0650

A wildland fire was discovered May 25 in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, across the Yukon River from Kathul Mountain, east of Washington Creek. 
Personnel from the Upper Yukon Zone of the Bureau of Land Management - Alaska Fire Service (AFS) flew over the fire, estimating it to be at 450 acres. They identified the Washington Creek cabin within 2.5 miles of the fire, on its western side. 

Six AFS smokejumpers deployed into in the area on May 25 to set up a sprinkler system and hose lay around the nearby cabin and assess other infrastructure within several miles of the fire. By Monday morning, May 26, the Kathul Fire (#090) had grown to 600 acres. The fire received some light precipitation on May 26, and scattered showers are expected in the vicinity over the next few days. On Tuesday May 27, the smokejumpers completed their work and demobilized, leaving the fire in monitor status.

National Park Service - Alaska would like to thank the Bureau of Land Management - Alaska Fire Service for providing timely assistance and logistical support to this effort.

Fire management staff are encouraging visitors to be especially cautious with their use of fire while enjoying the preserve, especially during dry conditions, where wildfires can start and grow extremely quickly. Campfires are currently allowed in the Preserve, but the effects of an unattended campfire could last for many years. Fires must be kept small and be completely extinguished before leaving the area.

Visitors and pilots are cautioned to be aware of wildfire smoke and fire management aircraft in the area. To report a wildland fire in Alaska, call the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center at 1-800-237-3633. For statewide fire information visit: akfireinfo.com or fire.ak.blm.gov. 

Learn more about Firewise and reducing the risk of wildland fire around structures through the Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group Firewise PDFTABLE OF CONTENTS Wildland Fires: Part of Alaska Living ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 Element 1: Firewise Homes���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7 Element 2: Firewise Landscaping ���������������������������������������������������������������������11 Element 3: Emergency Water Supply �������������������������������������������������������������13 Element 4: When Wildfire Threatens �������������������������������������������������������������15 Appendix Firewise Pruning ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������23 Firewise Plants �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������27 Creating Firewise Communities ������������������������������������������������������������31 Notice! The Firewise USA® recommendations found in this booklet are based on the National Fire Protection Association guidelines. Homeowners’ individual insurance policies requirements may vary. i Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Acknowledgments Firewise Alaska is a reference guide developed by the Alaska Wildfire Coordinating Group� The 2020 pocket guide was coordinated by National Park Service, Alaska Regional Fire Communication and Education Specialist Deborah Coble and Alaska Department of Fish and Game Program Coordinator Sue Rodman� Special thanks to AWFCG Wildland Fire Education and Prevention Committee for their review and edits� Graphic Designers, Carolina Pacheco Vargas and John Ray� If you see a o n r s u i n g c n o i n fi t c r a ol n le t d neighb o s r m fir ho o e o k d e , r in ep o y r o t u i r t by d im ia m lin ed g i 1 a 9 t -8 1 e 0 1 ly 0 o - r 2 Rema 3 in 7 - c 3 a 6 lm 33 o . the em n e t r h g e e n ph cy on d e i t s o p a h t e c lp h the e r l o c c o a n t f i i o r n m . More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA ii W I L D L A N D F I R E S : PART OF ALASKA LIVING Wildland fires happen, be ready. Fire plays an essential role in Your Firewise home has a good Alaska’s wildlands� Fire plays an chance of surviving a wildland equally important social role in fire without firefighter assistance. communities and rural lifestyles It’s important to remember that throughout the state, and helps burning embers collecting on or to shape the wild and expansive near your home before and after habitats that Alaskans call home� the main fire passes can still lead Homeowners can take effective measures to protect their homes and property� Adopting Firewise principles can reduce your risk of damage or loss to your property and community� This Firewise Alaska pocket guide provides some of the ways for you to protect your Alaska home from burning and how to create your family’s safety plan� A firewise home is more likely to survive a fire. Utah State University Forestry Extension, Firewise Landscaping for Utah: http://extension.usu.edu/forestry 1 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Utah State University Forestry Extension, Firewise Landscaping for Utah: http://extension.usu.edu/forestry to home loss if no one is there to When wildland fire stikes, put out these fires. firefighters must prioritize their efforts and may not reach every home� A Firewise home is more likely to survive a fire. Fires advance by direct flame contact and by burning embers. Homes ignite in the same way: 1� direct flame contact with combustible materials on or adjacent to the home, and 2� burning embers landing on or near the home� More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 2 How Fast Can Your House Run? Oregon State University Extension Service 3893 SW Airport Way Redmond, OR 97756 15 FT 30 FT 256 30 FT 12 FT 3 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php How Fast Can Your House Run? 15 FT 30 FT 256 30 FT 12 FT More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 4 How Fast Can Your House Run? From Your Doorsteps Outward Remove all conifers and dry or dead vegetation� Edge the building with small plants, flowers or gravel. Keep your roof and gutters clean� Remove needles, leaves lichens, branches and debris� Remove organic debris that collects in cracks� Remove debris and combustible items from deck surfaces and underneath decks and stairs� From 15-30 feet of structure Thin or clump conifer trees to ~15 feet between extending branches� Prune limbs of mature conifers to 6-8 feet� Remove shrubs beneath trees� Remove all dry or dead vegetation� From 30 - 100 feet of structure (increase distance if slope is >30%) Thin conifers to 10 -15 feet between extending branches� Thin black spruce in clusters <10 feet in diameter with 15 feet between clusters� Prune limbs of remaining conifers to 6-8 feet� Remove shrubs beneath trees� Remove all dry or dead vegetation� General Landscaping Maintain lawn at 3” or less and keep well watered� Keep trees healthy with frequent watering� Dispose of flammable debris from your property. Keep areas under stairs and decks free of debris; enclose with non-combustible screens� Clean the roof and gutters of needles, leaves, and branches� Provide a 15-foot clearance between your chimney and nearest tree branches� Prune trees in fall for best health - spruce bark beetle reference guide at https://www�fs�usda�gov/detailfull/r10/forest-grassland health/?cid=FSEPRD536861&width=full� Building Materials 5 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Firewise Self Assessment Checklist Cap chimney with spark arrester� Roof should be fire resistant; if not, keep clear of leaves, mosses and lichens� Screen all exterior vents, such as attic openings� Access and Signs Address marked with reflective numbers at least 4” high on house and driveway� Clear vegetation alongside driveway and road edge� Driveway should be 12 feet wide with a turnaround for emergency vehicle access� General Keep garden hoses and fire tools (shovels, rakes, or Pulaskis) readily available� If you have a well, consider installing a pump and generator� Keep storage areas clean; do not accumulate combustibles such as oily rags and newspapers� Check spark arresters on all motorized equipment; store 30 feet away from structures or inside garage� Hazardous Material Use non-combustible cribbing for fuel tanks with a 10-foot area cleared around the tank� Stack firewood at least 30 feet from house and clear 10 feet around pile� Do not stack firewood under trees or on downhill side of property� Fire Plan Inside Locate nearest fire station and post emergency numbers by several home telephones� Test smoke and CO alarms monthly and change batteries twice a year; keep fire extinguisher current. Clean chimney and stovepipe regularly� Identify emergency action plan for entire family & pets� Identify Safety Zone where family meets in an emergency� Prepare emergency supplies for transport (food, water, valuables and important documents)� More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 6 E L E M E N T 1 : F I R E W I S E H O M E S A non-combustible roof protects your home from burning embers� • Install a sprinkler system on the roof ridge during spring and summer if roof replacement to non-combustible material is not feasible� • Prepare vent covers from plywood or other solid material to install when a wildfire approaches. • Install gutter guards or covers� • Ensure that chimney spark arrestor is securely attached and is made of wire mesh screen (≤ 5/8 inch). • Cover attic and ridge vents with wire mesh screen (1/8 inch)� Windows will crack if wildfire is close. • Screen all windows that open to prevent easy entry of burning embers� Decks and stairs trap embers� • Maintain a non-combustible surface beneath the deck (i�e� mineral soil or gravel)� Things can be safely stored under the decks only if kept clear of debris. A 3-foot gravel perimeter is recommended around the house. 7 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php This cedar sha c k le e a r n o e o d f t c o a n re b m e o m v o e s l s ic t h h e a n t s h a a n v d e accumulated. Additionally, a b so e a i k n e s r t a h ll o e s d e o c n an d t u h r e i n r g oo t f h ’s e p su ea m k ke m ep er t m he o r n o t o h f s m to o i fi s r t e d d u a ri n n g g e h r i o g r h a fire event. • Store firewood and tires at least 30 feet from the home. • Remove debris and combustible items from deck surface and underneath deck and stairs� A fire resistant perimeter around the home protects siding and decking from fire. • Maintain a 3-foot gravel or other non-combustible perimeter around the home� • Remove dense woody shrubs and needle-bearing trees� Embers collect in open garages and carports� • Remove combustible fluids and debris from open carports. • Seal gaps on garage doors with weather stripping� More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 8 E L E M E N T 1 : F I R E W I S E H O M E S Wood Storage Tips More Tips Store wood piles at least 30 Properly dispose of all cut feet from any structure and vegetation by an approved clear 10 feet around pile� method� Open burning may Many homes have survived as require a permit� Contact your a fire moved past, only to burn nearest fire agency or village later from a woodpile that public safety officer for local ignited after the firefighters requirements� moved on to protect other Locate a brush pile at least homes� 30 feet from the house for fall Do not stack firewood under burning� trees or on the downhill side Care for piles of wood chips by of home� turning them regularly to avoid combustion� Sto u rin l g e n a d fi d e rew S t r o t o y o o our d r a e d 3 o h 0 e fe fi o c n r m o e k w e ca r e o ig n t aw o niti ay d h on f a o ro t m m le � e� a y s o t u r 9 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Locate burn barrels and open around tank� Use stone or iron fires at least 30 feet from any instead of wood for cribs under structure and clear the ground tanks� If you store gasoline, around the site for a minimum label it� of 10 feet� A burn barrel must Junk piles are fire hazards. Move be in good condition and should discarded items outside of the be covered with a woven metal home’s 30-foot perimeter� screen� Always stay with your fire, never leave it unattended. Additional Resources Keep garden hoses and fire tools readily available: axe, shovel, Firewise® Public Education rake or Pulaski� Information: https://www�nfpa�org/Public- Keep storage areas clean� Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/ Wildfire/Firewise-USA Discard oily rags and newspapers� Sheds, carports Alaska Burn Permits, Is it safe to and under decks are vulnerable burn today?: storage areas that often serve as https://dnr�alaska�gov/burn fire starters or fuel. Alaska Fire Information: https://akfireinfo.com Check spark arresters on all motorized equipment (any Alaska Interagency Coordination vehicle or machinery with a gas Center: engine�) Store 30 feet away from https://fire.ak.blm.gov structures or put the equipment inside garage� Locate and label liquefied Easy action items: Rake under decking & exterior stairs� petrolem gas (LPG), propane Sweep leaves & needles off tanks and any fuel storage of the deck� containers at least 30 feet from In one hour: Trim & water a structure and clear 10 feet plants around the house� Weekend project: Move the firewood off of the deck, store >30 feet from the house� More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 10 E L E M E N T 2 : F I R E W I S E L A N D S C A P I N G For a m n o d r e E F as ir y e wise p A T h le c i tt a ti p s o s e n v i It g ps ov :/ s e / / i m a fir t e : s, dm .a a in k.b w i lm f s c t g ra .p t . h io p n/ Islands of vegetation provide pleasing greenery that also slows fire spread through your yard. Rock gardens and small perennials are an attractive Firewise solution. Remove needle-bearing trees within 15 feet of the home. 11 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Landscaping Objectives Easy ac A lean, clean and green landscape will slow fire’s P ti r o u n n e it e a m tr s e : e & spread� Make the most of your efforts by starting water plan In ts o at the house and working outward� Thin and prune ne h R o a u k r e : trees one section at a time� Separate islands of ar R ou ak n e d u th n e woo vegetation� d p R d il a e k r e t r u e n e d s e Prune trees in fall months� sta e i r r s the deck & exterior Prune spruce trees in fall to limit bark beetle Weeken P d activity� ile p t r r o e j e e c fr l o i t m : m b All pruning should be done in late fall or cold t s h & brush >3 c e o h m ouse for 0 fa f l e p l e o b t months to maintain good tree health� s ting� urning or No pruning in the spring when trees are budding� Beyond 30 feet from your home, a healthy forest comprised of both birch and spruce can be maintained through regular pruning of branches, trimming shrubs and mowing grass beneath trees. More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 12 E L E M E N T 3 : E M E R G E N C Y W A T E R S U P P L Y Emergency Water Supplies Maintain an alternative water supply at your home� An on-site water source gives firefighters and homeowners a much better chance of protecting a threatened house or extinguishing one that is burning. In the event of a wildland fire, power will likely be disconnected and refilling fire engines takes precious time. Storing water with a pump and hose can be the key to saving your home� Create an alternative water supply with a pump 1� Designate a water container� The bigger, the better! 2� Use a strainer end in the water container that connects to a gas powered pump via durable hose� 3� Connect the pump to a hose� 4. Protect your water supply� Clear vegetation around the site, maintain easy access for vehicles, and refill as needed. Important considerations • A gravity-fed water supply is an inexpensive option� • Pumps: at least 5HP, portable, easy to start, self-priming, housed in their own shelter, fitted with a screen on the suction, have at least two hours of fuel� • Raised tank stands must be protected from fire and radiant heat and should be metal� • Use brass nozzles to withstand fire’s heat. Water supply tips • Check your system to make sure it works� • Use a rain-water catchment basin, outdoor pond, stream, hot 13 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php E L E M E N T 3 : E M E R G E N C Y W A T E R S U P P L Y E L E M E N T 3 : E M E R G E N C Y W A T E R S U P P L Y tub or even a canoe for an emergency water source to reach around your home� • Expand your range using a 2-way hose connector� • Smaller hose is easier to handle than larger diameter hose� Make your water supply accessible • If your water comes from a well, you should have a gasoline-powered generator to operate your well pump during a power failure� The generator MUST be installed with a safety transfer switch to prevent feedback into power lines! • If you don’t have a well with a submersible pump, you should have a gasoline-powered, portable pump to transfer water from your alternative water source� • Clearly mark your water supply for firefighters to use if you are not present� Use a soaker hose to protect roofing and decks • In spring, install a perforated hose (soaker hose) on your roof and decks to use when fire approaches. • When you learn of an approaching fire, use your regular hose system to wet down the roof and decks� • Turn on the soaker hose to maintain water flow on exposed surfaces� • Before freeze up, dissassemble all flexible hose systems. More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 14 E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S To Report a Fire dial 911 or 1-800-237-3633 Before a wildland fire threatens your home, make an emergency plan to provide for your family’s safety� Before a wildfire threatens If you have followed the advance preparation steps outlined in the complete Alaska Firewise booklet (link on bottom of page), you have created a Firewise home that has a better chance of surviving a wildland fire without firefighter assistance. However, you still need to prepare your personal response to a fire before it approaches your home� Make your plan and decide your response before fire season even begins. You can leave the area long before fire threatens your neighborhood, or stay and defend your home while a wildland fire burns past it. 15 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S Plan ahead for emergencies • Create and maintain defensible space around your home� • Learn the evacuation plan for your children’s school or day-care facilities� Also, know the plan for family members in assisted-living facilities� • Designate a relative or friend as an out-of-area contact through whom family members can relay information� • Identify and learn alternate ways out of your neighborhood in case the usual route becomes blocked� • Place important documents in a fireproof box and keep in an accessible location� • Prepare an emergency kit for each household member� • Keep your vehicle’s fuel tank at least half full during wildland fire season. • Plan how you will transport your pets� Do not leave them behind� • Make arrangements in advance for people and/or pets that will be home when you are not� Ready, Set, Go! https://www.wildlandfirersg.org/ When authorities tell you to evacuate, leave immediately and get to a safe location. More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 16 E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S Prepare to evacuate Stay informed about wildland fires in your area. Authorities may not have time for formal evacuation notification if conditions change quickly� • Park your car heading out (so you don’t have to back out), with the windows closed and the keys in the ignition� • Close the garage door, but leave it unlocked; disconnect the automatic garage door opener in case of power failure� • Park your ATV, heading out, with the key in the ignition� • Place emergency kit, valuable documents, family mementos inside the car in the garage for quick departure, if necessary� • Keep a flashlight, portable radio, and fresh batteries with you at all times� • Use your pre-planned route, away from the approaching fire front. • If you are trapped by a fire while in your car, park in an area clear of vegetation, close all vehicle windows and vents, cover yourself with a blanket or jacket and lie on the floor. • If you are trapped by fire while on foot, select an area clear of vegetation along a road, or lie in the road ditch� Do not lie in the middle of the road! Cover any exposed skin with a jacket or blanket� Avoid canyons that can concentrate and channel fire. 17 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S • Put on protective clothing: long pants, long-sleeved shirt, boots, hat and leather gloves� Eye protection is essential! • Keep pets leashed and in or near the house� • Prepare large animals for transport� Emergency Supply Kit for each person! • Four (4) quarts of drinking water • First aid kit (include eye drops) • Battery-operated radio • Safety goggles and hat • Smoke filtering mask or a handkerchief • Thick canvas or leather gloves • Long pants and long-sleeved shirt, heavy denim or wool • Wool blanket, large enough to cover a person completely when lying down Ready, Set, Go! https://www.wildlandfirersg.org/ More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 18 E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S Inside your home • Close all exterior windows and doors to prevent sparks from blowing inside� • Close all doors inside the house to slow the spread of fire from room to room� • Turn on a light in each room of your house and outside� This will make the house more visible in heavy smoke� • Fill sinks, bathtubs, and buckets with water� • Move furniture away from windows and glass doors to prevent ignition from heat radiating through glass� • Remove curtains and drapes� If you have metal blinds or special fire-resistant window coverings, close them to block radiant heat� Outside your home • Move combustible yard furniture away from the house or store it in the garage� • Cover windows, attic openings, eaves, vents, and subfloor vents with 1/2-inch or thicker plywood� • Close window shutters� • Attach garden hoses to spigots and place them so they can reach every part of your house� • Fill trash cans and buckets with water and place them around the exterior of the house� • Shut off liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), propane, or natural gas valves� • If you have an emergency generator or a portable gasoline- powered pump that will supply water from a hot tub, pond, 19 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php well, tank, or river, clearly mark its location and make sure it is ready to operate� • Place a ladder against the house to help access your roof� • Place a lawn sprinkler on flammable roofs, but don’t turn it on unless the fire is an immediate threat� You do not want to reduce the supply of water� • If you choose to evacuate using your private aircraft, do so before the fire’s arrival. Check for any Temporary Flight Restrictions� The airspace surrounding the fire will be filled with suppression aircraft and a collision could occur� Once you are evacuated, do not re- enter the airspace until all flight restrictions are lifted� Returning home • Stay informed and listen to fire officials. They will determine when it is safe for you to return home� • When you do return home, be alert for downed power lines and other hazards. • Check propane tanks, regulators, and lines before turning gas on. Only a qualified technician can turn on your natural gas� • Check your residence carefully for hidden embers or smoldering fires. More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 20 E L E M E N T 4 : W H E N W I L D F I R E T H R E A T E N S If you do not evacuate • Every member of your family must have an emergency supply kit with a wool blanket� • Follow the Pattern of Protection: ◊ Outside - defending from falling embers before the front arrives� ◊ Inside - sheltering during an intense fire-front arrival. ◊ Outside - dousing ignitions and mopping up� • Connect all hoses to outdoor faucets� Attach pumps to reserve water� • Assemble shovels and rakes to put out spot fires in the yard. • Place water-filled buckets outside with dippers, mops and wet canvas bags� • Put a ladder beside the roof� • Put a ladder inside to access the roof crawl space or attic� • Close all doors, but leave them unlocked� • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants made of wool or heavy cotton, gloves and shoes� • When the fire approaches the house, stay inside, away from outside walls and cover yourself with a heavy wool blanket� • Keep your entire family together and remain calm� Remember: if it gets hot in the house, it is many times hotter and more dangerous outside� 21 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php After the fire passes While you may have made Firewise preparations, past fire case studies have shown that many home ignitions actually occur after the flaming front has passed and accumulations of burning embers ignite material on or near your home� This is the time to go outside with your shovel and water to put out these small spot fires. • Check the roof and perimeter of the home immediately, extinguishing all sparks and embers� Use caution! • Check inside the attic for hidden, burning embers� • Check your yard for burning woodpiles, trees, fence posts, or other materials� • Keep doors and windows closed� • Continue rechecking your home and yard for burning embers� L • ea ve Ear P ly e o C p hecklis a l • c e c : o a u ll n f t a e m t d i f ly o P r members ets: w a • a n t i e m r als, crates, food, & • Pills: pre P s h cr o ip n t e io s: ns & medic f a a st t m ay io i n ly c o & n • k n e e e c p t e u d s p w -t i o th -d Phot ate h o • o s m : f e a m in i v ly e n m t P o e r m y entos & ape t r it s le : s d , e b e i d rt h fo c r e h r o ti m fic e a , t v e e s hicle More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 22 A P P E N D I X : F I R E W I S E P R U N I N G Zones of Defense Effective defensible space includes three zones of protection. Below are important concepts for each of these zones. Zone 1: Within 30 Feet of Structure Maintain deciduous trees and shrubs so that crowns are at least 10 feet apart to avoid the spread of fire from one to the other. Within this zone, remove tree limbs within eight feet of the ground to prevent a ground fire from climbing into the canopy� Remove trees that are within 10 feet of your house and keep branches from the roof, chimney, or deck� All shrubs and groundcovers near buildings should be kept less than 18 inches tall� Remove all dead or broken branches and all dead or dying trees. Remove highly flammable plant material from this zone. Zone 2: 30-100 Feet from Structure In Zone 2, maintain spacing of at least 10 feet between crowns� Limb trees up to eight feet to help prevent a ground fire from turning into a crown fire. Keep grasses short and space shrubs two to three times their mature height apart to break up continuity of the fuels. They may cause a fire to burn at a lower intensity� Remove dead, dying or unhealthy trees� Prune trees� Limit the number of dead trees left as habitat snags in this area, as wildlife only need one or two per acre. Stack firewood away from trees and shrubs, and at least 30 feet from any structure� Zone 3: Beyond 100 Feet from Home 23 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php This is a transition zone between your defensible space and the surrounding area and extends to your property line� Pruning may not be necessary within this zone, but you may wish to thin dense stands of trees, especially evergreens, and remove lower branches that are dead or could act as ladder fuels� It is important that your access road and driveway be maintained to provide safe access for firefighters and their equipment� Clear vegetation from around street signs so that they are visible� Thin the number of trees along the driveway to maintain 10 feet between crowns� Remove dead or dying trees� Prune trees along the driveway and remove or shorten lower branches that could prevent firefighting equipment from entering your property� Remember that they will need more room than average sized vehicles. For More Information For more information about how to be Firewise visit the Division of Forestry’s website at www�forestry�alaska�gov/ community/publications or www�nfpa�org or see www� treesaregood�org More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 24 A P P E N D I X : F I R E W I S E P R U N I N G 25 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 26 A P P E N D I X : F I R E W I S E P L A N T S Planting and maintaining Firewise vegetation is an important step when protecting your home from wildland fires. G R O U N D C O V E R & S H R U B S Alder Blueberry Columbine Dogwood/Bunchberry High Bush Cranberry Lupine Potentilla T R E E S 27 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Alaska Paper Birch Black Cottonwood Mountain Ash Quaking Aspen Planting and maintaining Firewise vegetation is an important step when protecting your home from wildland fires. G R O U N D C O V E R & S H R U B S Dogwood/Bunchberry Ferns Fireweed Forget-Me-Not Prickly Rose Red Currant Red Raspberry Firewise plants All plants will burn under hot, dry conditions� Some are more resistant to fire due to their moisture content, chemical composition and total volume. While using fire resistive plants instead of highly flammable plants is important, the spacing and arrangement of plants in your yard is even more critical� Islands of vegetation with 10 feet or more of separation provides for an attractive Firewise yard� Fire resistant plants Firewise plant choices have supple, moist leaves� They tend to retain their branches and stay green throughout the summer season. There are many decorative flowers, herbs and shrubs that fit this description. More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 28 A P P E N D I X : F I R E W I S E P L A N T S Take care in your plant choices Examples of highly flammable plants include: juniper, Mugo pine and ornamental spruce� Move plants with the following characteristics outside of your home’s 30-foot perimeter: ◊ Needles or leaves that have volatile waxes, terpenes or oils� ◊ Plants that accumulate fine, dry twigs, needles and leaves� ◊ Needles or leaves that emit a strong odor when crushed� ◊ Sap is gummy, resinous, and has a strong odor� ◊ Bark is loose or stringy� Conifer trees Coniferous trees, such as white spruce or hemlock, can contribute to a Firewise landscape when properly maintained� • Conifers should be more than 15 feet from structures� • Remove lower limbs on mature trees 6-8 feet from the ground� • Trees should be spaced 15 feet between branches� • Trim grass around trees� 29 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php Areas with good, defensible space are capable of surviving a wildland fire. For more Firewise tips please visit www.nfpa.org. Firewise plants are fire resistant, not fire proof. Many firewise plants have: • High water content and supple, moist leaves� • Little or no accumulation of dead vegetation, either on the ground or on the plant� • Sap that is water-like such as that found in birch trees� More landscaping tips and a variety of fire wise plants may be found at: https://www. uaf.edu/files /snre/ MP_05_04.pdf More Firewise Tips at: https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Wildfire/Firewise-USA 30 A P P E N D I X : F I R E W I S E C O M M U N I T I E S Becoming a Firewise Community/USA® While it is true that a Firewise home is more likely to survive a wildfire, it is also true that if your neighbors’ homes are not Firewise, as well as yours, you are still at a greater risk for losing your home to a wildfire. Firewise is a cooperative effort among local, state, federal and private agencies and organizations to promote fire safety in the wildland/urban interface. Firefighters do not have the resources to defend every home during a wildfire. When adequately prepared, a house can withstand a wildland fire without the intervention of the fire service. In fact, a house and its surrounding community can be both Firewise and compatible with the area’s ecosystem� The Firewise Communities/USA® program enables communities in all parts of the United States to achieve a high level of protection against wildland/urban interface fire as well as sustainable ecosystem balance� Firewise Communities/USA® program provides residents of the wildland/urban interface with the knowledge and skill necessary to make it happen� Firewise Communites/USA® is a unique opportunity available to America’s fire-prone communities. Its goal is to encourage and acknowledge action that minimizes home loss due to wildfire. It teaches you to prepare for a fire before it occurs. The program adapts especially well to small communities, developments and residential home associations of all types� Firewise Communities/USA® is sponsored by the National Wildlfire Coordinating Group� For information on how to become an Alaskan Firewise Community please visit http://forestry.alaska.gov/fire/firewise� 31 Complete Alaska Firewise booklet available at: https://fire.ak.blm.gov/administration/awfcg.php.

Additional park information is available by calling the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center at (907) 459-3730 between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm daily.

Last updated: May 27, 2025