The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection has declared an early start to fire season beginning March 17, a March 6 press release states. This public order applies to DOF’s Coastal Region, which includes much of Southcentral and Southeast Alaska.

According to the release, the state forester has determined that weather conditions including warm temperatures and low snowpack across specific areas of Alaska raises the risk of wildland fire ahead of the statutorily designated fire season, which typically starts April 1.

Areas of heightened wildfire danger include the Kenai-Kodiak DOF protection area, Copper River-Valdez DOF protection area, Mat-Su DOF protection area, McGrath-Southwest DOF protection area and all of Southeast Alaska.

Burn permits are required starting Monday, March 17, for all state, private and municipal lands in the above areas at all times during fire season. Areas not specified in this public order are not subject to the early fire season designation.

Find the full public order online at aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=218695.

More information about burn permits is available at dnr.alaska.gov/burn.