Lily Coyle News Today

April marks the start of wildfire season in Alaska. But do you know what to do or what you should have handy if you ever needed to evacuate? Your Alaska

The Interior experienced its third warmest summer on record and an unusual fire season.

Firefighters are preparing for a high-pressure weather pattern with sustained hot and sunny days starting this week. Fire activity is expected to increase.

There were over 30,000 lightning strikes in Alaska from Monday through Wednesday.

There were over 30,000 lightning strikes in Alaska Monday through Wednesday, with the number of acres burned rising from about 1,500 to nearly 11,000.

Alaska Fire Service spokeswoman Beth Ipsen says the agency recorded 7,000 lightning strikes around the Interior overnight Monday.

Alaska wildfire managers have seen the least-ever acreage burned so far this summer, as damp and cool conditions have persisted across much of the state.

A full mop up of the fire and site will take several days and will be difficult ”due to the materials that were burning being considered hazardous.”

Firefighters have nearly contained this year’s biggest wildfire so far. And rainy weather that’s scheduled to set-in tonight should help them control that fire near Delta Junction and dampen fire danger elsewhere around the eastern Interior.

“This is the first time that we’ve sent a crew to Canada in May,” said Lily Coyle with the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.