Fire Mitigation
Many communities in Alaska exist surrounded by forests. There are things you can do as a home owner to protect your house from forest fires that spread to your area.
What can I do today?
- Clear dead trees, brush, black spruce trees, and tall dry grass 30 feet from your house
- Plant trees and shrubs that are fire resistant (like May days, Mountain ash, currants, and tulips)
- Keep your vegetation well watered
- Landscape with gravel instead of wood chips
- Prune tree limbs that are within 6 to 10 feet above the ground
- Construct your house with noncombustible roof and siding (like a metal roof or steel siding)
Firewise - This is the best site we've seen for
defensible space and general fire mitigation.
Alaska Division of Forestry
American Red Cross:
Wildfires
Mitigation Reference Link Page - see DHS&EM' complete list
of mitigation links here
If you have questions about mitigation, e-mail Alaska's Hazard Mitigation Officer, Ann Gravier.
