The Anchorage Fire Department has partnered with the Anchorage School District and the MOA Parks & Recreation Department to mitigate the risk and hazard of wildfire. This project, which begins Monday, January 29, will thin the forested perimeter around both Hanshew Middle and Springhill Elementary Schools, which are both adjacent to Ruth Arcand Park.

This project will reduce the volume of surrounding forest fuels. This will reduce the school’s exposure to wildfire and also reduce the potential for fires to start in the treated areas.

The focus is to limit the school’s exposure to wildfire by working both in the perimeter around the schools and in the adjacent MOA park land. Crews will remove the spruce bark beetle killed trees and thin dense growing conifers to improve forest health. AFD will plant spruce seedlings and grass where needed in the spring.

Please contact AFD Forester Sue Barkwood for more information at 267-4902.