Prescribed burns to take place on training lands Published Oct. 30, 2007 By Melody Roos Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- The U.S. Army Alaska, with the assistance of the Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service, will conduct a prescribed burn of debris piles located three miles northeast of Eielson Air Force Base on Fort Wainwright Army Yukon Training Area. Burning may occur any time between Oct. 31 and Nov. 14, depending on when weather conditions are favorable. The burn will eliminate approximately 200 acres of debris created by mechanical clearing that occurred during the winter of 2005. To meet resource and safety concerns, prescribed fires occur only when specific conditions, such as air, soil and vegetation moisture levels; temperatures; wind direction and speeds; expected fire behavior; and smoke dispersal meet predetermined standards. Prescribed fires will be ignited only when conditions are such that the majority of the smoke will drift away from communities near the burn area, but smoke may be visible in the Eielson, Moose Creek and North Pole areas as a result of the burning operations. The State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a smoke permit for this project. For further information, contact the Public Affairs Office at the Alaska Fire Service, 356-5511, or Alaska Fire Service Dispatch at 356-5554. The Bureau of Land Management's Alaska Fire Service provides wildfire suppression services for all Department of Interior and Native corporation lands in Alaska and assists other entities with fire management activities, including guidance and interpretation of fire policy for BLM-Alaska and management and oversight of the BLM-Alaska aviation program. The AFS also conducts prescribed fires in accordance with various partner agreements.