Alaskans head to southeastern U.S. to help battle wildfires

(Fairbanks, AK) – Alaska’s state and federal wildfire suppression agencies are deploying personnel to the Lower 48 to help battle wildfires in the drought-stricken southeastern U.S.

In the last two weeks, more than a dozen personnel from state and federal agencies in Alaska have been sent to Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee to aid in suppression efforts for dozens of wildfires burning in those states. It’s part of a national effort to support the southeastern U.S., which has been experiencing weeks of drought.

As of Monday morning, there were 38 active fires in the Southern Geographic Area that have burned more than 100 acres, prompting the Southern Area Coordination Center to raise its preparedness level to Level 5, its highest level. Large numbers of firefighting resources have traveled to or are en route to the southeastern U.S. to help combat the blazes.

The Alaska personnel come from multiple agencies including the Alaska Division of Forestry, BLM-Alaska Fire Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service.