Alaska Wildfires August 19, 2004

Just when we thought fire season was over many fires in the state came to life yet again.  Records are being broken -- the warmest and third driest summer in 100 years for Alaska. In the area pictured in the photo below over 2 million acres has burned, a record since fire fighting efforts began in Alaska 50 years ago. August is known as Interior Alaska's Monsoon season -- the time of year that the majority of the area's 10" to 15" of annual precipitation occurs.  This year the Monsoons have failed to appear. In the photo below the only clouds are in Canada. The other white you see in the bottom of the photo is snow in the Alaska Range. As of August 19, the city of Fairbanks had been under a layer of heavy smoke, creating hazardous air conditions, for a week without a break. Compare August's fires to the status in June: www.oocities.org/hbamsbary/Alaska_Fires_2004.html For a peek at the life and thoughts of a forest fire lookout: www.oocities.org/hbamsbary/Waldo_Mountain.htm

For more information about Alaska wildfires go to the web site of the Alaska Fire Service: http://fire.ak.blm.gov