In the face of a changing climate, an updated planning tool will act as Anchorage’s guide to preparing for and living with an increased wildfire risk.
Higher temperatures and longer, drier summers are becoming standard across much of the Lower 48 and in Alaska, said Stephanie Dufek of the Anchorage Fire Department. Over the last two decades, Alaska has experienced several “record-setting” fire seasons, with more than 16 million acres burned since 2004, according to data from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Dufek is at the head of the municipality’s recent push to rewrite its community wildfire protection plan, which hasn’t been updated in nearly 20 years. The refresh will help residents stay prepared and make it easier for Anchorage to seek federal grants to reduce its fire risk, she said.
Approximately 82% of Anchorage falls within the wildland-urban interface, a factor that inherently increases the municipality’s wildfire risk. This is a zone in a community where homes and buildings intersperse with adjacent forests and undeveloped land.
