Prescribed burns to begin on military grounds near Fairbanks and North Pole [Video]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – The implementation of prescribed fires will start as early as May 2, at several military training areas around Fairbanks and North Pole.

The burn operations will take place at live-fire ranges of the Yukon Training Area near Eielson Air Force Base and the Fort Wainwright Small Arms Complex south of Fairbanks.

The Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS), in coordination with the U.S. Army Garrison Alaska will carry out the burning operations as late as May 31 – weather permitting.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Division of Air Quality has approved the burn plan and fires will only be ignited when weather conditions are favorable.

The purpose of prescribed burns is to remove the dry and dead grass in order to lower the risk of wildfires. It is ideal for prescribed burns to begin in the springtime due to milder conditions with a higher chance of minimizing smoke.

Smoke …