Wildfire season starts across the Mat Su and Alaska

Wildfire season is underway with 6 new fires reported in the Mat Su Valley over the weekend and one very large fire near Fairbanks.

The Moose Mountain fire broke out near the Goldstream Valley in Fairbanks and has grown to over 900 acres.   Over 200 people are working on that fire.  It is now 60% contained.  There was not an evacuation, but wildfire personnel there had a public meeting with residents in the area yesterday.

According to the Interagency Coordination Center, all of the Mat Su Valley fires were very small and have been called ‘out’ or are in monitor status.  Most are less than one acre and are human caused. One was an escaped debris burn pile, one was a small structure fire, another fire near Chugiak was an out of control grass fire.  Although one was considered a power line fire, the source is unknown. Two other very small fires reported, less than half an acre, have unknown causes but are believed to be human caused and are considered fully extinguished.

There is a fire estimated at 750 acres burning north and east of Healy, called the Francis Creek fire.  The fire has over 60 people working on it and is human caused.

Currently there are 14 active fires statewide with a total of almost three thousand acres burned.

Any open burning at this time needs a burn permit.  Permits can be obtained from the Talkeetna fire department.