Open Burning Still NOT Allowed on the Kenai Peninsula

Burn Smart, Burn Safe! flier from Alaska State Division of Forestry showing a small campfire surrounded by rocks.

Open burning is still not allowed on the Kenai Peninsula.  

Much of the State got weekend rain which reduced the wildfire danger.  But the Kenai Peninsula did not get that rain.  The Alaska Division of Forestry has kept the burin permit suspension in place for the Kenai Peninsula, while lifting the suspension in other areas of Alaska.

Under the permit suspension, the use of burn barrels, burning of brush piles and any other burning activities covered by a small- or large-scale burn permit on state, municipal and private lands is prohibited.

You may still safely enjoy a campfire 3’x3’ or smaller. But please ensure your campfires stay contained and are properly extinguished.

According to the Division of Forestry, so far this season, the state forestry division has responded to 76 wildfires in state fire protection areas that have burned approximately 230 acres. That compares to 85 fires that had burned approximately 3,404 acres last year.

"We at the Division of Forestry want to thank members of the public for being patient, and for following the rules suspending burn permits,” McDonald said. “Staying vigilant and following some common-sense fire safety rules will go a long way toward helping us all have a safer, healthier, and more enjoyable summer in Alaska’s outdoors.”  The City of Homer thanks you, too!

For more information contact the Homer Volunteer Fire Department or Tim Mowry, Division of Forestry, Wildland Fire, Public Information Officer, (907) 356-5512, tim.mowry@alaska.gov.