Second Largest Wildfire Year in History for Alaska

This summer’s fire season has officially become the second biggest on record in Alaska.

More than 5,081,000 acres, or 7,940 square miles, have burned this year. That surpasses the nearly 5.05 million acres burned in 1957 for second place on the state’s list of largest fire years.

Fire spokesman Sam Harrel says Alaska won’t beat the 6.6 million acres burned in 2004 because the state has entered its seasonal wet period.

There are still more than 200 fires burning to varying degrees. Those range from near the village of Hughes on the Koyukuk River, where firefighters have built a dozer line to protect the village, to various fires in the smoldering stage.

Alaska is beginning to send firefighters and resources to help out in the Lower 48.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire