February 3, 2021 (Anchorage, AK) – Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office has posted the
Fire in Alaska 2019 report that contains data from fire departments across Alaska. This data will be used in the Community Risk Reduction model to identify fire problems within the State of Alaska and in each community in order to attempt to use resources with more efficiency.
“The State Fire Marshal’s Office is looking forward to working with the Alaska Fire Service,” Richard Boothby, State Fire Marshal stated, “in a coordinated effort utilizing the Community Risk Reduction model to lower the impacts of fire to the citizens of Alaska.”
In 2019, 170 Fire Departments from across the state reported in the Alaska National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) with a combined total of 72,506 Fire & Life Safety Responses. Of those, 67,478 were non-fire incident responses, 3,713 were fires, and 1,315 were categorized as mutual aid given incidents.
Sadly, there were 18 deaths in Alaska as a result of fire in 2019. Of those, 11 were in residential type occupancies, 2 in marine vessels, 2 in motor homes, 2 in a detention facility, and 1 in a multifamily dwelling unit.
Warmer than average temperatures across the state resulted in an increase of wildfires and higher property losses.
Reported 2019 NFIRS statistics include:
- Fires attended by Alaska Fire Departments increased by 21% to 3713 with fires in and/or on structures increased by 91% to 1354.
- Grass/Brush/Wildland fires increased by 41% to 694.
- Residential properties accounted for 66%, or 893, of all structure fires.
- Property loss by fire increased by 31% to $79,229,088 with structure fires causing 88% of all reported property damage, totaling $69,822,246.
- 72% of all structural property loss was from residential property loss, which totaled $50,411,728.
Read the PDF version of the release