Three small fires extinguished Sunday in Talkeetna area

On Sunday, multiple small fires were reported in the Talkeetna area.

Brian Davis, Deputy Director for Mat-Su Borough of Emergency Services, says three fires were found along the Talkeetna Spur as well as side roads.  Firefighters from the Talkeetna Fire Department as well as the Alaska Division of Forestry were able to keep those fires from getting out of control.  Two were contained to road easement and ditch areas.  One did get into a wooded area, but was contained.

Through Sunday, some area residents expressed concern on social media that the fires might have been set intentionally. Davis says both the Alaska Division of Forestry and Alaska State Troopers have investigated the fires, and there is no definitive ignition source known at this time.  While it is possible they were intentional, Davis says sparks from chains on ATVs, heat from exhaust, and other unintentional mechanical sources can also start small fires.  Davis says with no definitive source coming from initial investigations, he does not want to jump to conclusions about how the fires started.

With most of the snow cover gone and relatively little spring rain, Davis urges caution regarding fires.  He says conditions are quite dry, and a fire could easily spread.