Spring is here in the Copper River Valley, but this year brings more than warmer temperatures and melting snow. The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) has officially declared an early start to fire season beginning March 17, 2025—two weeks earlier than the usual April 1 start. This early declaration includes the Copper River–Valdez DOF protection area and reflects growing concerns statewide due to an unusually low snowpack and record-breaking warm winter temperatures.
Although fire season is a regular occurrence in the region, this year’s conditions are setting the stage for a more active and prolonged wildfire season. The combination of low snow cover, exposed dry vegetation, and an anticipated warm and dry spring have created an environment where fires can ignite and spread more easily. Fire managers are urging residents and visitors alike to stay alert and prioritize fire safety, especially when recreating or working on the land.
Why 2025 Is Different
Historically, the fire season in Alaska is dictated by weather, fuel conditions, and snowpack levels. In a typical year, late winter snow helps insulate ground-level fuels like grasses, branches, and duff—the layer of decomposing organic matter on the forest floor. That snow slowly melts, delaying the onset of flammable conditions.
This year the story is different. Alaska experienced one of the warmest winters on record, and snowpack levels across the state—including the Copper River Valley—are well below normal. In some areas, snow is already gone from south-facing slopes, and wind-dried grasses and other light fuels are primed for ignition. These dry surface conditions mean fires can ignite easily and spread quickly—especially during the early “wind-driven” stage of the season.
Understanding Alaska’s Fire Season Stages
Alaska’s wildland fire season is typically broken down into four distinct stages, each with different risks and behaviors:
- Wind-Driven Stage (Early April–May)
This phase marks the beginning of fire season. Before the vegetation fully greens up and while soils are still cold, surface fuels such as dead grass, leaf litter, and other dry debris are highly flammable. Fires during this time can spread rapidly due to gusty spring winds and are often fast-moving and hard to control, especially near communities and road systems. - Duff-Driven Stage (Early June–Mid-July)
As the days get longer and the sun climbs higher in the sky, solar heating begins to dry out not only surface fuels but also the duff layer beneath. Fires during this phase can burn deeper into the forest floor, making them harder to extinguish. This is typically the peak of fire season, when lightning strikes or human activity can trigger large, fast-growing wildfires. - Drought-Driven Stage (Mid-July–Early August)
If the summer remains hot and dry, the fire season can extend into late July and August. Fires that continue burning into this phase often become highly resistant to suppression, especially if moisture from rain is limited. Fires may continue to grow or even overwinter—smoldering through the winter and flaring up again the following spring. - Diurnal-Effect Stage (Mid-August–September)
As daylight begins to wane and nighttime humidity increases, fire activity typically declines. Burn periods become shorter, and fires slow down or stop spreading. However, strong wind events can still cause flare-ups, as seen in isolated incidents in past years.
Due to the early onset of snowmelt and drying fuels in 2025, the transition from the wind-driven stage to the duff-driven stage may happen sooner than usual. Fire crews are preparing for a potentially intense mid-season.
2025 Fire Potential Outlook for the Copper River Valley
The 2025 statewide fire outlook suggests an earlier-than-normal start to the fire season in the central and southern Interior, including the Copper River Basin. With little snow remaining in many areas, fire activity may begin weeks ahead of schedule. Fuels are expected to be snow-free by mid- to late April, allowing surface fire potential to increase significantly through May.
By June, conditions will be conducive to duff-driven fire activity, particularly if sunny, dry weather persists. Resistance to control will increase as fuels dry, and fire growth may be driven by wind events and lightning storms.
While mid-summer temperatures are currently forecasted to be near normal, the lack of early-season moisture has already primed many landscapes. If summer rains fail to materialize, fire conditions could remain severe through the drought-driven stage and well into August.
Fortunately, current projections suggest that late summer precipitation will arrive on time, which should help mitigate large-scale fire growth during the diurnal-effect stage. However, even with rain, previously ignited fires may continue to smolder and show activity during the warmest parts of the day.
Burn Permit Requirements Now in Effect
Because of the early fire season declaration, burn permits are now required for open burning statewide, including in the Copper River–Valdez area. Burn permits are valid for one year and are required from April 1 through August 31.
A permit is needed for:
- Burn barrels
- Controlled burning of lawns less than one acre
- Brush piles
Permits are not required for:
- Campfires under 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height
- Cooking and warming fires
- Commercially manufactured cooking devices (grills, camp stoves, etc.)
Burn permits can be obtained online at forestry.alaska.gov, at the Tazlina DOF Office, or through participating vendors in the Copper River Basin.
Even without a permit requirement, all fires must comply with Alaska Wildland Fire Protection laws and must be completely extinguished before being left unattended. Campfire sites should be cool to the touch before you leave the area.
If You See Smoke on Ahtna Land: Take Action
Timely reporting can prevent a small fire from becoming a disaster. If you spot smoke, flames, or suspicious activity:
- Call 911 immediately
- Then report it to the Ahtna, Inc. Land Department at (907) 822-3476
Be prepared to describe:
- Your location
- Type of fire (campfire, brush fire, etc.)
- Direction and size of the smoke or flames
- Any people or vehicles nearby
Fire Safety Guidelines for Ahtna Shareholders and Land Users
Whether you’re camping, cutting wood, hunting, or just visiting your family land, please follow these steps:
- Always build campfires in an existing pit or fire ring if possible.
- Clear away flammable materials like grass and brush before lighting any fire.
- Dig through the duff layer to mineral soil or permafrost when creating a new fire pit.
- Keep water and a shovel nearby.
- Never leave fires unattended.
- Make sure your fire is cold to the touch before leaving.
Fires that are not properly extinguished can smolder underground for days—or even overwinter and reignite the next spring.
Protecting Our Land, Culture, and Future
The lands owned and managed by Ahtna, Inc. are rich in cultural history, natural beauty, and traditional value. Wildfires not only threaten homes and infrastructure, they also endanger the Ahtna traditional way of life, ancestral trails, family cabins, and sacred places.
By staying informed and taking personal responsibility, each of us plays an important part in protecting these lands for future generations. Please help us keep Ahtna land safe.