What's New

Additional training required for 2013 wildland fire season

To be able to obtain a Red Card for qualification for the 2013 fire season, all emergency response personnel, including emergency firefighters (EFF), are required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to complete the IS-700 course (An Introduction to the National Incident Management System). The course is available online http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/is/is700a.asp; bring the certificate of completion to the firefighter refresher training or fax it to the local area office. Firefighters who do not have internet access are asked to contact their local Forestry office for information about course delivery:

  • Delta Area Forestry 907-895-4225, fax: 895-2125
  • Fairbanks Area Forestry 907-451-2636 or 451-2819, fax: 451-2663
  • Tok Area Forestry 907-883-1400, fax: 883-5135
  • Valdez-Copper River Area Forestry 907-822-5534, fax: 822-8600
  • Kenai/Kodiak Area Forestry 907-260-4200, fax: 260-4205
  • Mat-Su/Southwest Area Forestry (Palmer) 907-761-6300, fax: 761-6319
  • Mat-Su/Southwest Area Forestry (McGrath) 907-524-3010, fax: 524-3420
  • Haines Area Forestry 907-766-2120, fax: 766-3225
  • Ketchikan Area Forestry 907-225-3070, fax: 247-3070

Firefighters within the BLM Alaska Fire Service should contact the zone offices:

  • Upper Yukon Zone 907-356-5550, fax: 356-5556
  • Tanana Zone 907-356-5569, fax: 356-5556
  • Galena Zone 907-356-5619, fax: 356-5556

Proposed Susitna State Forest

The Division of Forestry supports Senate Bill 28 and House Bill 79 that would establish a new State Forest in the Susitna Valley. The proposed 763,000 acre Susitna State Forest, if adopted, would become Alaska's fourth state forest, joining the Tanana Valley, Haines, and Southeast State Forests. Please see the following documents for more information.


Maps of the Proposed Susitna State Forest


The proposed Susitna State Forest lands are included within two state Area Plans:


Alaska Timber Jobs Task Force Releases Final Report

The Alaska Timber Jobs Task Force has released its report to Governor Sean Parnell recommending steps to improve economic conditions in Alaska's forest-dependent communities. Created by Administrative Order 258, the nine-member Alaska Timber Jobs Task Force reviewed issues affecting Alaska's timber industry. Largely due to declining timber volume offered for sale by the U.S. Forest Service, the Southeast Alaska timber industry has nearly collapsed.

The task force provided 34 recommendations to the governor addressing short-, mid- and long-term needs to stabilize and grow the timber industry.

These recommendations include:

  • Expanding existing state forests and establishing new state forests
  • Revising state statutes and regulations to address the needs of small timber operators
  • Seeking state management of federal timber acreage in Southeast Alaska, or improved federal policies to meet timber supply demand
  • Seeking a 250,000-acre state-federal land exchange, with dispersal of the newly acquired lands to Southeast communities for local economic use
  • Pressing the federal government to advertise additional timber sales and exempt Alaska national forests from the 2001 Roadless Rule

The Final Report is available at:


Forestry Social Media Sites

DOF now has Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube pages:


Individual links to Youtube content:


Board of Forestry Reports Forest Practices Act Success

The Alaska Board of Forestry released its 2010 report on implementation of the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act (FRPA) this week. The board announced that the act continues to protect fish habitat and water quality while providing for commercial timber and fishing operations. A media release, the board's report and attachments to that report are available at the links below.