AK-MSS-Palmer Fishhook Fire

[MusherCubby]

Today's press release from the AK Division of Forestry:

"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2012
CONTACT:
Division of Forestry, Mat-Su Area Forestry
Norman McDonald, Fire Management Officer, 907-761-6302,
norman.mcdonald@alaska.gov

Fire danger in the Matanuska Valley continues; residents are asked to help prevent and report new fires

(Palmer, AK) – Six new fires started and spread into the wildlands on Thursday in the Matanuska Valley. The
fire starts varied— a vehicle, a burn barrel, a burn pile, a power line, and two structure fires. The current
conditions are such that, no matter what the source, it only takes a spark to start a wildland fire. Low to no
snowpack combined with strong winds and low humidity have created the dangerous fire situation that
warrants extra caution by residents. The 100‐acre Palmer Fishhook Fire demonstrated the current fire
potential in the Matanuska Valley as it spread quickly through dry grasses. The seven‐acre Wilmington Fire
that started with a debris burn is contained but staffed as firefighters remove and extinguish snags.
The Palmer Fishhook and other fires resulted in statewide wildland firefighter response to support the local
efforts. Local efforts were provided by emergency responders, fire departments (including Palmer, Butte,
Central, West Lakes, Anchorage, Chugiak), Mat‐Su Borough Emergency Services, Police, and Troopers. The
wildland fire mobilization continued into the late evening hours on Thursday. Division of Forestry (DOF)
firefighters from offices in Fairbanks and Glennallen, and firefighters from BLM Alaska Fire Service in
Fairbanks, gathered their gear and plugged in their engines, some in temperatures as low as ‐40F.

Residents are asked to use diligence in preventing fires. Call 911 to report new starts. Open burning, burning in
burn barrels, and any other activity that involves fire or could create sparks is discouraged under the current
and forecasted conditions. Motorists are asked to look out for wildland firefighters and other emergency
responders that are responding to wildland fires. Please slow down and make sure headlights are on when
passing firefighters on the road.

A Red Flag Warning (RFW) is in effect for the Matanuska Valley through 4:00 p.m. Saturday for strong wind
and low humidity. Meteorologists in the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center expect the RFW to be
extended through Sunday. The RFW means that if a fire starts, conditions promote rapid fire growth that could
pose a danger to the public and firefighters. Wind effects may include blowing objects, trees that are down,
and travel difficulties. Information about the warnings is available on the National Weather Service webpage
at http://pafc.arh.noaa.gov/. Residents may experience residual smoke; information is available at
http://dec.alaska.gov/air/smoke_qa.htm.

For more information about the Palmer Fishhook Fire or other fires in the Matanuska‐Susitna valleys, contact
Norman McDonald, Fire Management Officer, Mat‐Su Forestry, 907‐761‐6302. Additional information sources
include: The City of Palmer Facebook page or 907‐761‐1301; Patty Sullivan, Public Affairs Director,
Matanuska‐Susitna Borough, 907‐745‐9577; Matanuska‐Susitna School District http://www.matsuk12.us. "

http://fire.ak.blm.gov/content/news/...e%20Danger.pdf

[dirtpig67]

I have been on a few fires in the Mat-Su but never have I heard of anything of this size occuring at this time of year. Could make for a very interesting summer next season if snow pack levels do not accumulate this winter.