Miller's Reach Fire
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Background on the Fire
On June 2, 1996, a small wildfire ignited in the Miller's Reach, Alaska area. On June 7th the President signed a Disaster Declaration for the Miller's Reach Fire. By June 15th the fire was considered under control. Approximately 37,366 acres burned and 344 structures were destroyed. Luckily, there were no causalities.

HMGP for the Miller's Reach Fire
The State of Alaska has received $1,607,242 via the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for the 1996 Miller's Reach Fire. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funded 75% of the grant, and the State of Alaska provided the additional 25%.

List of HMGP Projects
Thirteen projects were approved for funding. Most projects are either public awareness or fuel management projects.

The Projects and Subgrantees (grant recipients) are:
Television Public Awareness Campaign - educates homeowners on creating defensible space to minimize impacts of urban/wildland interface fires. The subgrantee is the Municipality of Anchorage.
Wildland Fire Prevention - is a pilot project to educate the public via workshops and other one-on-one interaction. The subgrantee is the Division of Forestry.
Fuel Management for City of Houston - involves creating defensible space around several city owned critical facilities and clearing of fallen black spruce (which is highly flammable) at the Little Susitna River Campground. The subgrantee is the City of Houston.
Defensible Space Demonstration Project - involves creating defensible space around the Big Lake Public Safety Building. The subgrantee is the Matanuska Susitna Borough.
Educational Park - is a kiosk containing photos of fire damage and defensible space explanation. It will be located along the Parks Highway. The subgrantee is the Matanuska Susitna Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.
Installation of a Dry Hydrant System - will reduce the response time to fires and greatly minimize impact to watershed areas. The subgrantee is the Matanuska Susitna Borough.
Installation of South Houston Water Supply - involves installing an underground water tank and pumphouse at Meadowood Mall (corner of Big Lake Road and the Parks Highway). This will provide a dependable year round water supply at a central location to 3 fire department headquarters. The subgrantee is the City of Houston.
Construction of Fire Breaks - within the Matanuska Susitna Borough. The fire breaks may also be used as emergency evacuation routes. The Borough is the subgrantee.
Improved Access to Castle Park on Prator Lake - will improve turning radius to the firetruck fill site, decreasing response time. The City of Houston is the subgrantee.
Homesteaders Community Center Building Improvement - includes installing steel siding, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and creating defensible space. The Homesteaders Community Center Incorporated is the subgrantee.
Metal Roof for the Mid-Valley Senior Center - The City of Houston is the subgrantee.
Automated Weather Data Collection System - will provide accurate and timely reports of weather patterns, which allows firefighters to do their job more effectively. The Matanuska Susitna Borough is the subgrantee.
Fire Mitigation Officer - assists the Matanuska Susitna Borough in fire education and awareness. The Borough is the subgrantee.

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Mitigation Home Page

If you have questions about mitigation, or HMGP, e-mail Alaska's Hazard Mitigation Officer, Mark Roberts.

P.O. Box 5750, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-5750
Phone: (907)428-7000 Fax: (907)428-7009
dhs&em_emergency_mgmt@ak-prepared.com

Miller's Reach Fire Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Miller's Reach Fire
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program