Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection - DFFP

10/30/2026

Vampires and haunted houses are spooky, but do you know what really keeps us up at night?

🎃 Unattended campfires: always extinguish fires completely until coals are cold to the touch.
🎃 Fireworks during Red Flag conditions: high winds, low humidities, and high temperatures can make fireworks a severe wildfire risk.
🎃 Trees falling on power lines: inspect your yard for hazardous trees and contact your local utility company to trim branches and remove trees near lines.
🎃 Dragging tow chains: dragging tow chains can cause sparks that can ignite nearby grass.
🎃 Firewood stacked next to the house: keep firewood stacked at least 30 feet away from structures to create defensible space.

Don't let real-life horrors ruin your Halloween! Practice wildfire safety and keep your home and community safe this spooky season. 👻

10/28/2026

Great news for Alaska sawmills and builders! 🌲🏠

The Municipality of Anchorage has officially issued a new policy approving lumber certified under the Alaska Lumber Grading (ALG) program. This means local builders can now use locally produced, ALG-certified Alaska lumber for residential construction under building code requirements in the municipality.

The ALG program, a partnership between the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection and the UAF Cooperative Extension Service, provides the certification courses and training that allow Alaskan sawmill operators to produce graded local lumber for use in residential construction.

More information on the Alaska Lumber Grading program and certification process is available at https://www.uaf.edu/ces/sustainable-resources/lumber/

Municipality of Anchorage Issues Policy to Approve Lumber Certified Under the Alaska Lumber Grading Program

The Alaska Lumber Grading program (ALG), a partnership of UAF Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, provides a certification course for sawmill operators to allow them to certify locally produced Alaska species lumber for use in residential construction. Under the rules of the program, lumber species, grading criteria, and end use are limited. ALG-certified lumber may substitute for grade-stamped lumber to satisfy residential building code requirements in Alaska.

This year the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) demonstrated its commitment to accept lumber graded by sawmills holding the ALG certificate by issuing policy R.23 Alaska Lumber Grading Approval.

The policy results from coordination between the MOA Development Services Department and Matt Labrenz, CES Forest Products Specialist, including an ALG certification training that was hosted by Development Services at their Anchorage office location for staff and home inspectors.

This proactive policy step taken by the Development Services Department ensures ALG-certified sawmills and their Anchorage customers a seamless process when they choose locally produced Alaska species lumber for home construction.
The Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension (IANRE) enriches the lives of Alaskans through research, education and outreach grounded in community needs.

10/28/2026

On National First Responders Day, the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection honors the courageous men and women who step up when duty calls to protect our state.

Thank you to our wildland firefighters for your tireless work, bravery, and dedication on the front lines every fire season. 🌲🔥

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our essential partners and cooperators in EMS, structural fire services, and law enforcement. When emergencies strike and wildland fires threaten homes and communities, your seamless teamwork, rapid response, and shared commitment save lives and keep Alaskans safe.

To all firefighters, law enforcement officers, medics, dispatchers, and first responders, thank you for your service and dedication!

10/21/2026

We’re celebrating National Forest Products Week! 🎉🌲

🪵 Lumber, firewood, house logs, and more! This week, we recognize the many ways Alaska’s forests support our homes, communities, and everyday lives. 🏡🔥

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is proud to support our local forest products industry while promoting healthy, productive, and resilient forests for all Alaskans! 🌱🌎

10/20/2026

🔥 Planned Pile Burning in Tok

Tok forestry personnel will be burning 12 piles of woody debris off Midnight Sun and Red Fox this week as part of the ongoing ( #487) cleanup.

- What you'll see: Because of their location, smoke and fire will be very visible from the north side of town.
- Timeline: The work is expected to continue through the rest of this week.

Everything is planned and being managed safely by firefighters. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Photo: Fairbanks One Fire Crew burning piles on the (487) on August 24, 2026. PC: J.Hale/DFFP

10/19/2026

🌲 Division of Forestry & Fire Protection offices are closed today, Monday, October 19, in observance of Alaska Day.

Offices will reopen Tuesday, October 20, during regular business hours.

10/17/2026

We are celebrating National Forest Products Week October 18-24. 🎉

What comes from trees that you use everyday?🪾🏒🛹⛩️🪓

Educators can use the Forest Products Exhibit as an interactive display that highlights ecosystem services, tree products, and traditional practices that use trees and forests. 👨‍🏫🌲🌳

❓To learn more, Contact Alaska Project Learning Tree @ [email protected]

Project Learning Tree

10/17/2026

📢We’re hiring a Statewide Public Information Coordinator.

Join the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection to lead public information, work with the media, and support fire information officers across the state.

📍 Based in Anchorage, Palmer, or Fairbanks
• Full time
• $2,725.50 to $2,807.25 biweekly
• Open to Alaska residents

Apply by November 16 at 5 p.m. Alaska time.

👉 View the position and apply:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/jobs/5518677

10/14/2026

Applications for Tree City USA are live! 🌲

Tree City USA is a national program developed to recognize communities that have demonstrated a commitment to quality tree care. If your community is interested in applying for the first time, take the Community Readiness Quiz to find out if you qualify: https://www.arborday.org/our-work/tree-city-usa/readiness-quiz

Whether you’re a longstanding Tree City USA community or are interested in becoming recognized for the first time, we’re available to help with anything from answering questions about the application process to brainstorming how your local government can work towards achieving Tree City USA status.

Contact the Alaska Community Forestry Program at [email protected] with any questions.

📆 Applications are due by December 31st – get started on your application today!

For more information, visit the Tree City USA website: https://www.arborday.org/our-work/tree-city-usa

10/14/2026

The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DFFP) invites public comments on 3 Preliminary Best Interest Findings (PBIFs) and 3 draft Forest Land Use Plans (FLUPs) for timber sales within the Fairbanks-Delta area. Detailed maps are included in the documents to assist in site specific review of these areas. Electronic copies of the draft documents are available at:

https://forestry.alaska.gov/timber/fairbanks

The Division of Forestry invites public comment during a 30-day period on these 6 decision documents prepared under AS 38.05.035(e) and AS 38.05.112. DFFP intends to proceed with the timber sale proposals and would pursue commercial sawtimber/fuelwood contracts for the proposed areas.

Please direct your written comments to Andrew Allaby at Fairbanks-Delta Area Forestry, 3700 Airport Way Fairbanks, AK 99709-4669, [email protected].

To have comments considered, they must be received no later than 4:30pm AKST, Friday, November 6th, 2026.