Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott have declared the first week of May in 2016 as Wildland Fire Prevention and Preparedness Week in Alaska. In a special video announcement, the two leaders discussed what Alaskans can do to prevent wildfires in the state.
“Wildland fires can start unpredictably and spread at a rapid pace, endangering the lives and property of Alaskans,” Walker said in a statement. “It is important for citizens to be informed and prepared to take steps to ensure their personal safety and that of their families.”
In their video, Walker and Mallott noted that 2015 was the second most destructive fire season Alaska has seen. More than five million acres burned in 2015, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center’s website.
“While much of that acreage burned as a result of natural fires caused by lightning, the two most destructive fires of the season were human-caused blazes that destroyed almost 60 Alaska homes and damaged many others,” Mallott explained.
Burn bans have been put in place for many areas of Alaska, and planned, seasonal burning has been put on hold or canceled because of high fire danger following a dry winter.