Legislature(2025 - 2026)BUTROVICH 205
04/28/2025 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): Board of Fisheries | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s): State Assessment Review Board | |
| SJR18 | |
| HJR15 | |
| SB174 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 112 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 18 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 15 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 174 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HJR 15-WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
4:26:06 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL announced the consideration of CS FOR HOUSE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 15(CRA) Urging the Governor, the Department of
Natural Resources, division of forestry and fire protection, the
Department of Public Safety, municipalities of the state and
relevant wildfire planning and response agencies, and the Alaska
delegation in Congress to prepare for the 2025 wildfire season.
4:26:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE KY HOLLAND, Alaska, District 9, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, introduced himself.
4:27:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND said the presentation for SJR 18 provides
a good framework for the work being done to address wildfires in
Alaska. He advanced to slide 2, containing a map of Alaska
indicating significant wildland fire potential:
[Original punctuation provided.]
The Growing Wildfire Threat in Alaska
• Unusually dry conditions in South Central Alaska
• Increased wildfire risk due to rising
temperatures and lower precipitation.
• High-risk communities in WUI areas: Anchorage,
Fairbanks, Kenai, Soldotna, and others.
• Challenges: Limited water sources, difficult
terrain, single-access roads.
• Benefits of Action: Reduce firefighting costs,
economic damage, and loss of lives and homes.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND said dry conditions may lead to an early,
more significant wildfire season. This information was shared
with Anchorage area community councils as well as state and
local fire jurisdictions to raise awareness and concern about
the potential danger and to encourage early planning efforts. He
directed attention to the map on slide 2 and said the potential
for wildfire danger is extending beyond typical high danger
areas.
4:28:55 PM
SENATOR HUGHES referred to the map included on slide 2, pointing
out that it was issued on March 3, 2025. She said the map was
reissued one month later and commented that the wildfire threat
is ongoing.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND said conditions change and the map is
updated monthly.
4:29:13 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND advanced to slide 3:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Strengthening Interagency Communication and
Coordination
Key Recommendations in HJR 15:
• State and local agencies review and update
wildfire response plans.
• Fire departments, forestry officials, and public
safety officers collaborate on equipment, drills,
and evacuation plans.
• Pursue investments in aerial firefighting
resources, water reservoirs, and critical road
ROW maintenance.
• Federal support is crucialWe urge Congress to
increase funding for Alaska's wildfire prevention
efforts.
SENATOR HOLLAND briefly discussed the challenge of managing
wildfire treatment and evacuation in areas where a single road
leads to many homes. He emphasized the importance of ensuring
the right of way is cleared and that road capacity allows for
the simultaneous evacuation of residents and arrival of
emergency equipment.
4:31:44 PM
SENATOR HOLLAND advanced to slide 4 and said that HJR 15
addresses both government agency preparedness and public
preparedness:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Community Engagement and Public Preparedness
Key Recommendations in HJR 15:
Proactive Community Actions:
• Expand Firewise USA participation & homeowner
education.
• Promote "Ready, Set, Go!" evacuation preparedness
program.
• Increase early detection efforts and emergency
notifications.
• Organize community wildfire drills and evacuation
route planning.
4:33:06 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND advanced to slide 5:
[Original punctuation provided.]
Call to Action
2025 Wildfire Season has started!
• State and Local Leaders: Implement wildfire
mitigation strategies now.
• Residents: Take part in preparedness programs and
report risks.
• Congress and Federal Agencies: Support Alaska
with funding & resources.
• First Responders and Public Safety Officers:
Participate in interagency training and drills.
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND stated that the 2025 wildfire season was
declared early.
4:34:29 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND concluded that HJR 15 is a call to action
for the 2025 wildfire season. He expressed hope that this would
help raise awareness of the long-term work that is needed. He
briefly discussed historical urban core fires and the subsequent
changes that mitigated those fire risks. He expressed hope that
large, urban perimeter fires would be similarly managed. He said
that, in the future, large fires do not need to equal loss of
life and major infrastructure losses. He stated that his goal is
to bring awareness and to encourage support of the work being
done to reduce wildfires.
4:36:31 PM
SENATOR HUGHES said it is horrific to think of the impacts of
large urban fires and expressed appreciation for HJR 15. She
briefly discussed the National Interagency Fire Center maps for
upcoming months. She expressed concern that campfires could
potentially lead to wildfires. She said unhoused populations
often start campfires in treed areas, which increases the
potential for wildfires. She asked if this had been addressed.
4:37:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE HOLLAND shared his understanding that the
Municipality of Anchorage has been considering this issue and
deferred the question.
4:38:06 PM
NORM MCDONALD, Deputy Director, Division of Forestry and Fire
Protection, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Palmer,
Alaska, said the Division is working with the Municipality of
Anchorage to identify high-risk areas. Work on some of those
locations is scheduled to begin in spring of 2025.
4:38:49 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI noted recent federal announcements that states
would assume responsibility for disaster response funding. He
asked how the State of Alaska would address this. He commented
that that Alaska has many urban-wilderness interface areas,
which create additional risk.
4:39:45 PM
MR. MCDONALD said the Division of Forestry and Fire Protection
(DFFP) is aware of this issue and is awaiting additional
information. He said the National Association of State Foresters
provides a channel for the State of Alaska to communicate its
support for upcoming changes - or any concerns - to federal
agencies.
4:40:24 PM
SENATOR KAWASAKI recalled extensive wildfires in the 2010's and
the effort to build fire breaks, roads, and access points for
fire equipment that resulted from those fires. He asked whether
this is something that DFFP is continuing to work towards - or
whether those fire mitigation efforts have become lax due to a
lack of funding.
4:40:59 PM
MR. MCDONALD said the DFFP continues to invest a great deal of
effort and energy into the fuels program. He briefly discussed
fire protection efforts at Murphy Dome, including a fuel break
to protect subdivision residents. He said fuel breaks make up a
large percentage of DFFP funding. There are fuel breaks around
the state (from Fairbanks to Homer) with both state and federal
funding sources. He said preparedness and fuels mitigation are a
large part of the mission of DFFP.
4:41:55 PM
CHAIR GIESSEL held HJR 15 in committee.