Program Overview

Goals

• Assist partners and cooperators to accomplish effective and efficient fire protection on state, private, and federal lands.

• Help Forest Supervisors achieve effective and efficient fire management on National Forest System lands in Alaska.

Program Description

The Fire Management Program in Alaska includes two areas:

1) National Forest System Fire Management - The provides leadership, direction, and technical expertise to the Chugach and Tongass National Forests in support of their fire protection and use programs. Approximately 29 million acres are protected. Wildfires number about 30 per year. Fuel treatment and wildlife habitat improvement using fire as a management tool also occur.

2) Cooperative Fire Protection - This program provides Forest Service financial and technical assistance (fire prevention, suppression technology, and equipment) to the State of Alaska to effectively and efficiently protect state and private lands from wildfire. Elements of Cooperative Fire Protection include: 

• Volunteer Fire Assistance financial support to rural fire departments. 

• Federal Excess Personal Property (FEPP) - excess federal fire fighting related equipment made available to state and local fire departments.

• State Fire Assistance - direct financial, technical, and operational support to state level wildland fire protection.