Kenai Refuge Assistant Fire Management Officer Dianne MacLean surveys one of 12 wildfires occurring on the Refuge in 2005

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge recently completed its 2005 Fire Management Activity Report.  Highlights of the report include: 

1) Qualifying 18 people for fire duty;

2) Hosting or participating in nine fire training courses;

3) Completion of interagency plans;

4) Acquisition of a heli-torch;

5) Outreach at four local events and fire prevention messages delivered throughout the Refuge (an unprecedented zero human-ignited wildfires occurred on the 2-million acre Refuge in 2005!);

6) Completion of GIS vegetation mapping for the entire 2 million acre Refuge;

7) Installation of Fire effects monitoring plots;

8) Completion of two prescribed fire/hazardous fuels projects;

9) Management of 12 wildfires (natural ignitions);

10) Management of two wildland fire use fires totaling 27,225 acres (the only such incidents on Fish and Wildlife Service lands in the U.S. in 2005);

11) Emergency stabilization and rehabilitation of the Emma Lake Trail (from the 2004 Glacier Creek Fire);

and, best of all,  12) No injuries to firefighters or loss of human life or property occurred. 

A copy of the report may be obtained by contacting Doug Newbould, Kenai Refuge Fire Management Officer, at (907) 260-5994.