The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

The Swan Lake Fire can be seen from above on Monday, Aug. 26 on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Alaska Wildland Fire Information)

State lifts burn suspension

Residents may now obtain permits for burn barrels as well as for small and large-scale brush fires.

After two months of dry conditions, increased rainfall on the Kenai Peninsula has led the State Division of Forestry to lift the suspension on burn permits in the area, according to a Tuesday release from the Department of Natural Resources.

Residents of the Kenai Peninsula may now obtain permits for burn barrels as well as for small and large-scale brush fires. Permits for small brush piles and burn barrels can be obtained online at dnr.alaska.gov/burn and at local fire departments. For brush piles larger than 10 feet in circumference and 4 feet in height, a large-scale permit is required, which can be obtained by contacting the local Division of Forestry office in Soldotna at 907-260-4200. Those who have already obtained burn permits for this year do not need to apply for another one.

Those burning should follow the guidelines outlined in the permit, which provides details on the requirements for controlled burns as well as recommendations on best practices.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“If people follow the guidelines that are on the permit, everything should go smoothly,” Tim Mowry, Division of Forestry public information officer, said on Tuesday.

The issuance of burn permits was originally suspended on May 1 of this year because of concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic would limit the ability of firefighters and resources from the Lower 48 to reach Alaska. The suspension remained in place on the Kenai Peninsula because of dry conditions in May and June.

In a Tuesday email, City of Seward Fire Chief Clinton Crites said that a burn suspension may be reissued locally if dry conditions or winds over 10 miles per hour develop in the area.

Mowry said that this year’s wildfire season has been relatively tame compared to last year. There was a slate of lightning-caused fires in early June, Mowry said, which occurred in mostly remote regions. Nine crews from the Lower 48 have had to be brought up so far this year to assist with firefighting, three of which were sent home because they were ultimately not needed, Mowry said.

Two holdover fires were reported on the peninsula in June that were associated with last year’s Swan Lake Fire: one on June 15 and another on June 26.

The first holdover fire was small and was extinguished within 10 minutes, according to a June 26 update on Akfireinfo.com. The second fire reached 7.2 acres in remote wilderness and is currently being monitored by wildland fire personnel, according to the July 7 report from Alaska’s Interagency Coordination Center.

Residents should always call 907-260-4269 or check conditions online before burning.

Reach reporter Brian Mazurek at bmazurek@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Concert-goers listen to The Discopians at Concert on the Lawn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
‘Dancing at the end of the world’

KBBI AM 890 hosted their annual Concert on the Lawn Saturday.

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in