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Officials report heavy 2025 fire season, point to fuel breaks and seek supplemental money for suppression
Summary
Deputy Director Norm McDonald and Deputy Commissioner Brent Goodrum told the Senate State Affairs Committee that the 2025 season stretched resources with a major lightning event and fires near communities, highlighted fuel‑break successes and described a supplemental funding request to address suppression bills from last season.
Deputy Director Norm McDonald of the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection told the Senate State Affairs Committee on Feb. 3 that Alaska’s fire program is organized around four pillars — preparedness, prevention, mitigation (fuels reduction) and suppression — and that the state’s interagency protection model and pre‑season prioritization guide resource allocation.
McDonald reviewed several fuel‑break projects used during the 2025 season, including a 7‑mile Sunset fuel break in the Mat‑Su Valley, a refreshed Murphy Dome fuel break in Fairbanks and a 13‑mile interagency fuel break used on the Funny River Fire. He said the…
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