State officials lifted bans today on open burning and use of fireworks for most of Alaska. They cited a decrease in fire danger due to recent cool and rainy weather and requests by members of the public to allow cookouts, campfires and pyrotechnics for this weekend’s July 4th celebrations.
Both the state Forestry and Fire Marshal’s Office lifted their respective statewide bans on burning and fireworks today, with some exceptions. Forestry spokesman Tim Mowry says his agency’s decision is based mainly on increased rainfall and decreased temperatures that’ve set in over the past few days. And forecasts for more precipitation leading up to the weekend.
“Conditions have moderated in a lot of areas, especially in anticipation of more rain,” Mowry said.
Mowry says Forestry’s burn ban remains in effect in the Anchorage area and in western and southwestern portions of the state. He says the latter two areas haven’t gotten any of the showers that’ve helped reduce fire danger in the eastern Interior and southcentral.
“They’re not getting any precipitation out by Tanana, Galena, McGrath area,” he said. “They haven’t gotten hardly anything, and fires are still pretty active out there.”
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