Wildfire in Northern Lynn Canal, Alaska

A near record dry April and below normal winter snowfall resulted in unusually high fire danger in the Northern Panhandle. Several small (under 10 acres) wildfires were reported from late April through mid May by the Tongass National Forest and the State of Alaska Division of Wildlife and Forestry. On May 1, red flag warning conditions developed in our northern inner channel zones (Gustavus, Skagway and Juneau). Breezy northerly winds combined with relative humidities in the single digits (a very rare occurrence in the rain forest of Southeast Alaska). Local officials reported at least one small (under 2 acres) brush fire "took off" in the Juneau area on that Thursday.