Anchorage Fire Department

04.30.08

Contact Jennifer Klugh 317-9929

Wildfire Mitigation Project on Campbell Creek Greenbelt

To mitigate the risk and hazard of wildfire in the neighborhood, the Anchorage Fire Department has partnered with the MOA Parks & Recreation Department to treat the greenbelt of Campbell Creek from Taku Elementary to Dowling Road. To maintain the integrity of the stream protection zone, forest treatment will only be done east of the trail. All spruce bark beetle killed trees will be removed. Additionally, black spruce trees will be thinned and pruned to leave healthy trees. This project will limit the available fuel for camp fires and increase the visibility into the forest. Crews will be working in the area beginning April 30, 2008.

What is the risk of fire in the greenbelt?

There has been evidence of fire use in the Campbell Creek greenbelt over the past several years. Dense trees and fallen limbs provide the fuel for these fires. By thinning out the forest and pruning the live residual trees, less fuel (wood) is available to burn. Also, the increased visibility into the forest dissuades fire use.

What is Firewise?

The Anchorage Fire Department uses the national Firewise home protection principles to reduce the potential for wildfires to spread to homes. Firewise is everyone’s responsibility. Managing our forests for fire and resistance to bark beetles supports green, vibrant trees on both private and public lands.

What is the forest treatment planned for the greenbelt?

In an effort to keep a forest fire from spreading into the surrounding neighborhood and to support the growth and vigor of live trees, the forest treatment project will carefully remove and limb trees. In some areas, dense black spruce will be thinned to leave clumps of healthy residual trees. Improving forest health in this park may be accomplished by pruning the live, residual trees to stave off a future bark beetle attack. Dead trees will be removed, both standing and downed. Tree limbs will be chipped. This project is expected to begin on April 30, 2008. Tree thinning will be done by the State of Alaska Pioneer Peak Crew. These are professional firefighters working on fire mitigation projects in the Anchorage area since 2001. Chipping will be done by a private contractor Fuels Reduction of Alaska. This crew is on contract with the Anchorage Fire Department.