Summer access to facilities and services in Denali remains altered due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide and the associated closure of the Park Road at Mile 43. Check here for more information on what to expect. More
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 boreal forest and tundra ecosystems. Lightning-caused fires, in particular, are an essential natural process that provide many ecological benefits. These fires help to reduce the buildup of dead plant materials, release valuable nutrients stored in the soil, and rejuvenate plant life by promoting new growth. This, in turn, contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem.
When a wildland fire occurs in a National Park, park managers quickly 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 functioning.
Fire Management Agencies across Alaska have collaborated to identify areas of priority when allocating suppression resources (i.e., firefighters, firefighting equipment and aircraft). When a fire occurs in Denali National Park and Preserve, park managers will see in which of the following “Protection Zones” the fire lies to determine what the fire response may be.
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, when Alaska’s fire season has reached its peak and the potential for large wildfires starts to decline), 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.
For any particular fire start, as conditions change and fire response evolves, park managers may adjust strategies to manage the fire more effectively while monitoring the fire's behavior and potential impacts.
At 12:30 pm on Sunday, June 30, 2024, the Riley Fire was reported on Denali National Park and Preserve lands about one mile north of the park entrance, in the Nenana River canyon. Due to the extremely dry conditions, the fire grew quickly. Thanks to assistance from both local and out of state partners, fire protection agencies, and planning in advance for this type of scenario, the park was back to regular operations only 11 days after ignition.
The frontcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve has not experienced a significant wildland fire for 100 years. Given the expected fire interval in the dominant forest type is 60-120 years, NPS Alaska Western Area Fire Management staff brought together local park managers, major community stakeholders and regional suppression experts to discuss and prepare for what wildfire might look like in this area. A half-day simulation event took place in May 2024 in the park.
Locations:Bandelier National Monument, Blue Ridge Parkway, Cabrillo National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Colonial National Historical Park, Denali National Park & Preserve, Dry Tortugas National Park, Fort Pulaski National Monument, Gettysburg National Military Park, Glacier National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Saratoga National Historical Park, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Shenandoah National Park, Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Parkmore »
Offices:Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate, Director, Harpers Ferry Center, Museum Management Program
The National Park Service (NPS) was only 26 years old when the United States entered World War II. The young bureau faced very real threats to its mission, with increasing pressure to contribute its natural and cultural resources to the war effort even as its budget and staff were slashed. Under the leadership of Director Newton B. Drury, the NPS was able to do its part for the war while maintaining its public trust responsibilities to the American people.
907 683-9532
A ranger is available 9 am to 4 pm daily (except on major holidays). If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and we'll call you back as soon as we finish with the previous caller.
