By Amanda Swinehart

The Copper Valley’s 2021 wildfire season was off to a blazing start last week with two fires in less than 24 hours.

The first fire was near Copper Center.  According to Alaska Wildland Fire Information Maps, it was approximately one tenth of an acre and caused by the burning of brush piles.  The Kenny Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded, and it was fully suppressed.

The second fire started on Moose Creek Road near downtown Glennallen and was estimated to be 2.7 acres.  In a Facebook post, the Alaska Division of Forestry (AKDOF) said, “Firefighters from GlennRich Fire Rescue and the Valdez/Copper River Area Forestry office were first on scene and a helicopter from the Mat-Su Area office also responded with a load of five firefighters.” 

The AKDOF estimated 20 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire and said a helicopter was brought in to drop water on hazardous materials that were burning.

Jon Cox, a wildland fire and resource technician 3 with the AKDOF, said the Moose Creek fire was still under investigation but that it may have been caused by a previous burn that was not fully extinguished.

Cox advised area residents to be cautious with flammable material and to get a burn permit before lighting any fires. 

Burn permits can be obtained by calling the AKDOF at 907-822-5534.