By the end of April, even with Alaska's lingering snow, there were already 17 human-caused fires, say state and federal fire officials.
In this aerial photo provided by the BLM Alaska Fire Service, the east side of the East Fork Fire is seen near St. Mary's, Alaska, on June 9, 2022.
Much of that acreage — 1.2 million acres — was in Southwest Alaska, an area that has not generally had big fire seasons. The 2022 season more than doubled the area burned in that region since the 1950s. Plus, the 2022 season impacted Alaskans across the state, from the voluntary relocations at St Mary’s to widespread unhealthy air quality from smoke. Most tragically, we lost Doug Ritchie, a helicopter pilot supporting firefighters on the Clear Fire near Anderson.
As Alaska’s climate changes, the hot, dry and windy weather conditions that raise fire danger are becoming more frequent, starting earlier in the year, and ending later. When human activity sparks an ignition, a wildfire can quickly spread and endanger people and property. Despite this year’s late snowpack and cooler spring temperatures, dead grass and brush easily ignite once they’ve been exposed and dried in the sun.
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