A series of wildfires have been burning throughout the U.S. state of Alaska.
Background "Fire season" in Alaska now starts on April 1, one month earlier than historically. Large fires typically start in late May and are contained by late July. The Interior has four fire distinct stages. The first occurs soon after snowmelt from dry grass ignited by humans spread by wind. The peak of fire season occurs around the summer solstice when long, warm daylight hours dry out plant litter that is ignited by lightning. In late July, high temperatures and drought extend fire season. In autumn, fire activity tends to slow down due to cooling temperatures and shorter day length. However, fire managers have been challenged in recent decades due to variability. Most wildfires burn in the Interior boreal forest between the Brooks Range and Alaska Range.
Summary Pre-season conditions Portions of the Interior received significant snowpack while other parts of the state received average or slightly below average levels. In May 2026, temperatures were below average for most of the state aside from the northwest portion. Precipitation was above average in the south-central area and below normal in the eastern and central Interior regions. Precipitation eliminated concerns of abnormal dryness in the Kenai Peninsula. Cooler temperatures in April and May slightly hindered snowmelt, however, most snow has melted across the state. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation developed into the 2026–2027 "Super" El Niño event, and is predicted to become moderate or strong by autumn, which may increase fire activity. Despite this, the peak of the El Niño will be after fire season in Alaska ends.
Predictions and events
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has predicted normal potential for significant wildfires from June to September. Middle and low levels of plant litter should remain too damp to support ignitions while the upper layer is dry enough to foster conditions. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has predicted above-average temperatures for the latter half of June, but otherwise conditions are typical for this phase of fire season. Lightning partway into June has sparked several wildfires, especially in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, with 4,340 lightning strikes reported on June 19.
List of wildfires
The following is a list of fires that burned more than , produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.
NameBoroughAcresStart dateContainment dateNotesKopshesutNorthwest ArcticHuman-caused. Burned in the Ambler landfill.CanyonYukon-KoyukukLightning-caused. Burning west of Rampart along the Yukon River and threatening structures.KilolitnaYukon-KoyukukLightning-caused. Burning northwest of Rampart in Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge.BearDenaliLightning-caused. Burning southeast of Lake Minchumina.ShawSoutheast FairbanksLightning-caused. Burning northeast of Delta Junction.KathulSoutheast FairbanksLightning-caused. Burning in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.KilusiktokNomeLightning-caused. Burning northeast of Koyuk.DoorstepYukon-KoyukukLightning-caused. Burning southeast of Bettles.AllenYukon-KoyukukLightning-caused. Burning west of Wiseman.
See also 2026 Canadian wildfires 2026 United States wildfires Wildfires in 2026
Notes
References
External links Alaska Fire Info