06/30/17 09:35 AM Fireworks Prohibited - Where?

Do you live in an unincorporated community on the KPB?

The use of fireworks and the sale of fireworks is prohibited on the Kenai Peninsula Borough outside of the boundaries of the cities of Homer, Kachemak City, Kenai, Seldovia, Seward and Soldotna. 

What does this mean? It means that in locations that are governed by the borough, outside of city boundaries, require a permit to use fireworks. Only specific groups may be authorized to use fireworks for public displays as long as that group has a current permit issued by the borough mayor.

To know more visit KPB Code 10.18 “Fireworks Control” https://library.municode.com/HTML/13259/level2/TIT10HESA_CH10.18FICO.html

06/27/17 3:15 PM East Fork Fire Transitions to a Type 4 Incident

akfirepios posted: "This will be the final update for the East Fork Fire unless significant activity occurs. Transition to a Type 4 Incident Commander took place this morning at 7am. The last of the smokejumpers and overhead are being shuttled out of the field today. The " New post on AK Fire Info East Fork Fire Transitions to a Type 4 Incident by akfirepios This will be the final update for the East Fork Fire unless significant activity occurs. Transition to a Type 4 Incident Commander took place this morning at 7am. The last of the smokejumpers and overhead are being shuttled out of the field today. The Pioneer Peak Hotshots will remain in the field to monitor the fire and finalize improvements to the ENSTAR natural gas pipeline corridor. A photo of Smokejumpers on the first day as they pack up their parachutes and receive supplies via paracargo. Photo Credit: Robert Yeager The lightning-caused 1,016-acre fire continues to burn in a limited protection area of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. As of this morning there were 49 personnel assigned to the fire but nearly half of them will be demobilizing and traveling home today. Cloud cover and light rains have moved into the area and are expected to continue to moderate the fire activity. Although parts of the Kenai Peninsula are receiving significant amounts of rain, the fire area is in a rain shadow, therefore is not expected to receive much rain over the next few days. Fires burning in deep duff and tundra require significant amounts of rain to put them completely out. Therefore, fire activity will likely increase once again when warmer and drier weather returns to the area. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) that was in place over the fire has been canceled. There are still aircraft working in the area throughout today and flights to monitor the fire and provide supplies to the crew in the field will continue daily. Pilots are asked to remain vigilant while flying near the fire. Smokey talking to kids about being FireWise at the Open House in Sterling. Photo Credit: Celeste Prescott Over 10 miles of hose, and pumps to run them all, are in place along the existing fire breaks. The ENSTAR natural gas pipeline corridor and the newly built hand line, running from the southwest corner of the fire's current perimeter for 2.5 miles to the south where it ties into the pipeline, are prepped to use as fire breaks. A map marking the locations of all the pumps and equipment in the field was created for the turnkey operation. If fire activity increases, then the proposed burnout operation may need to be conducted to protect the Sterling Highway and the community of Sterling. The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area and all firefighting equipment that is in place. Thank you to the public and the agencies that attended and participated in the Community Open House in Sterling last night. It is always great to have one-on-one time with the public and cooperating agencies. During these wet weather days, residents are encouraged to take steps on their own properties to reduce wildfire risk using tips found on the FireWise website: http://www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/firewise-toolkit.aspx For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on akfireinfo.com, KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/. akfirepios | June 27, 2017 at 3:14 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1v4 Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/27/east-fork-fire-transitions-to-a-type-4-incident/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

06/26/17 11:00 AM East Fork Fire Community Meeting in Sterling tonight @ 5pm

An open house will be held tonight - Monday 06/26/17 - at the Sterling Elementary School from 5-7pm. Stop by to talk with East Fork Fire personnel as well as local officials from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Division of Forestry, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Office of Emergency Management, Central Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers.

06/25/17 3:20PM Temporary Flight Restrictions

akfirepios posted: "There have been numerous aircraft busting the temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the fire. The TFR is in place to provide for the safety of fire-related aircraft operations. Pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before" New post on AK Fire Info 5753 by akfirepios There have been numerous aircraft busting the temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the fire. The TFR is in place to provide for the safety of fire-related aircraft operations. Pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. The most up to date TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. An aerial picture of the burn area on the morning of 6/25/17. Photo Credit: Celeste Prescott The return of warmer and drier weather has started to dry the fuels around the East Fork Fire which is burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. As of noon today, there were only a couple visible smokes within the fire perimeter, but as the day progresses there is potential to see an increase in fire activity and smoke production. The lightning-caused 1,016-acre fire that is burning in a limited protection area has not grown in the last 4 days. The demobilization process has begun and we now have 121 personnel assigned. Due to the predicted weather and possible increase in fire activity, the White Mountain type 2IA crew that was scheduled for release today is being kept for one more shift. The North Star type 2 crew and the Chena Hotshots will be released tomorrow as well. All scheduled releases are dependent on fire activity remaining moderate. Tentative transition to a type 4 organization is planned for Tuesday. The Pioneer Peak Hotshots and some overhead will remain in the field to monitor the fires perimeter and improve the fire breaks. Firehose has been laid and pumps have been placed along the hand cut fire break and the ENSTAR natural gas pipeline easement. A map has been completed with the locations of all supplies and features in place for a turnkey operation in case the fire picks back up and the proposed burnout operation is needed to protect the Sterling Highway and the community of Sterling. The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area and all firefighting equipment that is in place. A helicopter shutdown at a helispot on the western perimeter of the East Fork Fire. Photo Credit: Celeste Prescott An open house will be held on Monday, 6/26, at the Sterling Elementary School from 5-7pm. Stop by to talk with East Fork Fire personnel as well as local officials from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, The Alaska Division of Forestry, The Kenai Peninsula Borough, Office of Emergency Management, Central Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers. During these wet weather days, residents are encouraged to take steps on their own properties to reduce wildfire risk using tips found on the FireWise website: http://www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/firewise-toolkit.aspx For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on akfireinfo.com, KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/. # akfirepios | June 25, 2017 at 3:16 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1uN Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/25/5753/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

06/24/17 12:20 PM Warmer and Drier Conditions Return to the East Fork Fire

akfirepios posted: "The recent cool and damp weather conditions moderated fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Warm and dry weather has returned to the Peninsula and is predicted to continue through the weekend. The change in wea" New post on AK Fire Info Warmer and Drier Conditions Return to the East Fork Fire by akfirepios The recent cool and damp weather conditions moderated fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Warm and dry weather has returned to the Peninsula and is predicted to continue through the weekend. The change in weather will likely cause an increase in fire activity and smoke production. The East Fork Fire remains at 1,016 acres with 145 personnel currently assigned. The fire continues to burn in a limited protection area about 4.5 miles north of the Sterling Highway and 3.5 miles east of the nearest residential area. Fire management's objectives remain the same on the lightning-caused fire; minimize the impact on values at risk on the south end of the fire and the natural gas pipeline corridor to the southeast, as well as to keep the fire east of the East Fork of the Moose River. Firehose has been laid and pumps have been placed along the hand cut fire break. Fire crews continue to lay hose and place pumps along the ENSTAR natural gas pipeline easement. Firefighters have completed clearing a 100-foot radius around the pipeline valves and are now clearing some black spruce that's growing on the north side of the easement. ENSTAR Natural Gas Pipeline Valves have been cleared of fuels. Photo Credit: Lakota Burwell A map is being made with all the locations of supplies and features in place for a turnkey operation in case the fire picks back up and the proposed burnout operation is needed to protect the Sterling Highway and community of Sterling. The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area and all firefighting equipment that is in place. The Tanana Chiefs Crew is being released from the incident today and will begin their travel home. The White Mountain crew from Fairbanks will be released tomorrow. If fire activity remains moderate through the weekend, then two more crews will be released on Monday which would leave Pioneer Peak Hotshots as the only remaining crew in the field and assigned to the fire as of Tuesday morning. Tentative transition back to the local unit as a type 4 organization is expected Tuesday or Wednesday. An open house will be held on Monday, 6/26, at the Sterling Elementary School from 5-7pm. Stop by to talk with East Fork Fire personnel as well as local officials from the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, The Alaska Division of Forestry, The Kenai Peninsula Borough, Office of Emergency Management, Central Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the fire to provide for the safety of fire-related aircraft operations has been modified. Pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. The most up to date TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. During these wet weather days, residents are encouraged to take steps on their own properties to reduce wildfire risk using tips found on the FireWise website: http://www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/firewise-toolkit.aspx For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on akfireinfo.com, KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/. akfirepios | June 24, 2017 at 12:21 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1uK Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/24/warmer-and-drier-conditions-return-to-the-east-fork-fire/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

06/23/17 2:00 PM East Fork Fire to Begin Demobilizing

akfirepios posted: "Current cool and damp weather conditions continue to moderate fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the moderating fire activity, fire managers are beginning the demobilization process and expect to star" New post on AK Fire Info East Fork Fire to Begin Demobilizing by akfirepios Current cool and damp weather conditions continue to moderate fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. Due to the moderating fire activity, fire managers are beginning the demobilization process and expect to start releasing crews over the weekend. Picture of a mosaic burn still smoking with in the fire area. Photo Credit: Robert Jeager The lightning-caused fire remains approximately 1,016 acres with 145 personnel assigned. Since no change to the perimeter has occurred, no new map will be produced today. The fire continues to burn in a limited protection area about 4.5 miles north of the Sterling Highway and 3.5 miles east of the nearest residential area. Yesterday, an infrared flight of the fire showed scattered heat on the southern and eastern perimeters. Fire management's main objectives continue to be to minimize the impact on values at risk on the south end of the fire and the natural gas pipeline corridor to the southeast, as well as to keep the fire east of the East Fork of the Moose River. A warming and drying trend is predicted for the weekend. However, if the fire activity remains moderate and the objectives are being met, then there will be no need at this time for the strategic burnout operation. As discussed earlier in the week, the burnout remains an option to help manage the fire on the southern and western flanks. Picture of the ENSTAR pipeline easement. Photo Credit: Robert Yeager Firefighters continue to improve the new fuel break that runs from the fire's southwest corner, about 2 ½ miles south to the ENSTAR natural gas pipeline, and lay water hose along the fire break and the pipeline easement. This work will assist with the burnout operation if conditions change, causing the fire to become active again and threaten the Sterling Highway and community of Sterling.  The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area. The temporary flight restriction (TFR) in place over the fire to provide for the safety of fire-related aircraft operations has been modified. Pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. The most up to date TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. During these wet weather days, residents are encouraged to take steps on their own properties to reduce wildfire risk using tips found on the FireWise website: http://www.firewise.org/wildfire-preparedness/firewise-toolkit.aspx For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on akfireinfo.com, KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/. # akfirepios | June 23, 2017 at 1:59 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1uv Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/23/east-fork-fire-to-begin-demobilizing/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

06/22/17 2:30 PM East Fork Fire Activity Moderates

akfirepios posted: "Tuesday's rain and the current weather conditions have dramatically moderated fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The lightning-caused fire remains approximately 1,016 acres and currently has 147 perso" New post on AK Fire Info East Fork Fire Activity Moderates by akfirepios Tuesday's rain and the current weather conditions have dramatically moderated fire behavior on the East Fork Fire burning in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. A picture of the North Star crew laying hose along the 30-foot-wide ENSTAR pipeline easement The lightning-caused fire remains approximately 1,016 acres and currently has 147 personnel assigned. The fire is in a limited protection area about 4.5 miles north of the Sterling Highway and 3.5 miles east of the nearest residential area. Yesterday, the fire experienced cool temperatures and high relative humidity but no precipitation fell over the fire area. Similar weather is forecast for today and tomorrow with a warming and drying trend predicted for the weekend. Fire officials plan to fly the fire with an infrared camera today to search for areas of heat. This will give fire personnel an idea of how much heat is still within the fire area and on the eastern and southern perimeters. Fire management's main objectives continue to be to minimize the impact on values at risk on the south end of the fire and the natural gas pipeline corridor to the southeast, as well as keep the fire east of the East Fork of the Moose River. A tentatively planned burnout operation is an option to help manage the fire and ensure a secure eastern and southern perimeter. If the fire activity continues to moderate and the objectives are being met, then there will be no need for a burnout. North Star Crew working on the East Fork Fire break on 6-21. Photo Credit: Lakota Burwell Today, firefighters will continue to improve the fuel break that runs from the fire's southwest corner, about 2 ½ miles south to the ENSTAR natural gas pipeline. Crews are also working to lay fire hose along the fire break and the pipeline easement. This work is being done to prepare the area for the burnout operation in case the fire becomes active again and threatens the Sterling Highway and community of Sterling. The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area and be aware of the potential for aircraft using Skilak Lake to scoop water. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the fire and pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. A modification to the TFR is planned for today. The most up to date TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/.   akfirepios | June 22, 2017 at 2:27 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1ul Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/22/east-fork-fire-activity-moderates/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

06/21/17 3:00 PM East Fork Fire Receives Some Rain

akfirepios posted: "The lightning-caused East Fork Fire has been remapped to more accurately reflect the perimeter which is now 1016 acres. The fire behavior is currently described as smoldering with minimal burning.  The fire remains approximately 4.5 miles north of the Ste" New post on AK Fire Info East Fork Fire Receives Some Rain by akfirepios The lightning-caused East Fork Fire has been remapped to more accurately reflect the perimeter which is now 1016 acres. The fire behavior is currently described as smoldering with minimal burning.  The fire remains approximately 4.5 miles north of the Sterling Highway and 3.5 miles east of the nearest residential area. East Fork Fire Perimeter Map, 6/21/17 The fire received one-third of an inch of rain yesterday. Warmer and drier weather conditions are expected for the rest of the week, which will help dry out the fuels in the fire area.  Fire officials are waiting for the landscape to dry out before initiating the planned burnout operation. This will help to ensure the entire area will burn completely, leaving nothing left to reignite. The burnout operation is to clear out a dense mature stand of black spruce that is a potential threat to the community of Sterling. The operation would remove all fuels between the active fire and the fire breaks to the west and south. Firefighters continue working to cut and clear a fuel break from the fire's southwest perimeter about 2 ½ miles south to the east-west running ENSTAR natural gas pipeline. The underground pipeline is beneath a cleared, 30-foot-wide corridor that will also serve as a fire break, preventing the fire from spreading further south toward the Sterling Highway. Officials from ENSTAR agree with the strategy to manage the fire by burning from the pipeline easement as long as the above-ground pipeline valves are cleared of brush and tall grass for a 100-foot radius. In addition to clearing the valves, firefighters are starting to lay water hose line along the fire breaks on the west and south. Water-scooping CL-415's wait for the weather to clear on 6/21. Photo Credit: Hans Rinke The northern and eastern perimeters of the fire are in monitor and patrol status.  They are primarily monitored by air. The public is asked to please steer clear of crews working in the area and be aware of the potential for aircraft using Skilak Lake to scoop water. A temporary flight restriction (TFR) has been put in place over the fire and pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. More information on the TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html. For more information, contact Alaska Division of Forestry public information officer Celeste Prescott at 907-244-9376. Information about the fire is also being posted on akfireinfo.com, KPBOEM.blogspot.com and inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5250/.   akfirepios | June 21, 2017 at 2:47 PM | Categories: AK Fire Info | URL: http://wp.me/p4ue7N-1uf Unsubscribe to no longer receive posts from AK Fire Info. Change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://akfireinfo.com/2017/06/21/east-fork-fire-receives-some-rain/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com