Public Order Emergency Declaration of Fire Season

Whereas, the period from April 1 to August 31, inclusive, of each year has been designated the fire season pursuant to AS 41.15.050; Whereas, AS 41.15.050 provides the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources to proclaim an additional fire season period for any portion of the state when weather or other conditions require action for the protection of forested land; Whereas, the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources has delegated certain statutory authorities to the State Forester of the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection (the “Division”), and such delegated authority includes those encompassed by AS 41.15.050; Whereas, the State Forester has determined that weather conditions including warm temperatures and low snowpack across specific areas of Alaska raise the risk of wildland fire ahead of the statutorily designated fire season; Whereas, those areas of heightened fire danger include: Copper River-Valdez DOF protection area, Mat-SU DOF protection area, Kenai-Kodiak DOF protection area, McGrath-Southwest DOF protection area, and All of Southeast; Whereas, under AS 41.15.010, areas to be protected from wildland fires include private, state, and municipality-owned lands, and Whereas, the State Forester has determined that the increased risk of wildland fire in these areas warrants an early declaration of the fire season beginning on March 17, 2025 and the requirement for burn permits in those areas under the authority provided by AS 41.15.060 and 11 AAC 95.400 through 11 AAC 95.430. IT IS HEREBY THE ORDER OF THE STATE FORESTER, pursuant to AS 41.15.050, that the designated fire season will begin on March 17, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Alaska Daylight Savings Time, for the following areas: Copper River-Valdez DOF protection area; Mat-SU DOF protection area; Kenai-Kodiak DOF protection area; McGrath-Southwest Alaska DOF protection area; and All of SE Alaska. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT burn permits under AS 41.15.060, 11 AAC 95.400 through 11 AAC 95.430, and other authorities will be required for these areas at all times during the fire season. Under AS 41.15.010, this order applies to all state, private, and municipal lands within the above-described areas. Areas not specified in this order are not subject to this early fire season designation. Violations of this order may be prosecuted