Wildland Fire in Denali National Park and Preserve

A line of firefighters walk through a recently burned area.

NPS/ S. Martin

In Alaska, fire plays a crucial role as a natural disturbance and is an integral part of the boreal forest and tundra ecosystems. Lightning-caused fires, in particular, are an essential natural process in the forests and tundra of Denali National Park and Preserve. These fires help to reduce the buildup of hazardous fuels, release valuable nutrients stored in the soil, and rejuvenate plant life. This, in turn, contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem.

When a wildland fire occurs in a National Park, park managers assess the situation and make informed decisions to protect the public, nearby park communities, and infrastructure. In addition to prioritizing safety, park managers also work to manage fire in a way that conserves natural and cultural resources, and helps to maintain and restore ecosystem processes that support biodiversity and ecological health.

Fire Management Agencies across Alaska divide land into four zones when allocating suppression resources. When a fire occurs in Denali National Park and Preserve, park managers use this tool to determine resource needs.

• Critical Protection Zone – Fires in this zone receive the highest priority of suppression because it is an area of high human density with critical infrastructure.

• Full Suppression Zone – Areas that are assigned a high priority for suppression, but less than those in the critical zone. These are usually areas with lots of visitor recreation.

• Modified Protection Zone – Areas that fire managers focus on reducing suppression costs while protecting nearby resources that may be of higher intrinsic value. After Alaska's conversion date (usually around July 10th), the priority for allocation of available resources to this type of zone is lowered and is considered a Limited Suppression Zone.

• Limited Suppression Zone – Areas of land that have low density and varying resources to protect. In these areas, very few resources are allocated to fire suppression efforts, as the fire is largely allowed to take its natural course. Fire managers still continue to closely monitor these fires for changes that would require new management objectives.

As conditions change and fire objectives evolve, park managers may adjust strategies of each zone to respond more effectively to the fire's behavior and potential impacts.

 

 

More Information:

• Learn more on our Managing Fires and Fuels page
• Wildland Fire - Alaska
• Wildfires, Prescribed Fires, and Fuels - Wildland Fire Program
• Learn about Wildland Fire