Applying Stand Replacement Prescribed Fire in Alaska

Stand replacement prescribed burning has been applied in Alaska on several occasions. Based on that experience, perspectives can be provided, issues can be discussed, and keys to success can be identified that are applicable to stand replacement prescribed burning activities in areas outside Alaska. There are approximately 220 million fire-prone acres in Alaska. Suppression of wildilres on a widespread basis has been effective only within the past 40 years. Between 1982 and 1984, Interagency Fire Management Plans were imple-mented that are still in effect. The intent of these plans was to reduce suppression costs, and to allow land managers greater latitude in making suppression decisions that were consistent with resource management objectives. The plans provide for a range of suppression responses, from aggres-sive suppression of fires threatening life and property to surveillance of fires in remote areas that do not threaten areas requiring protection. Approximately 65 percent of the fire-prone acreage on State and Federal lands in Alaska is in a "surveillance suppressionn response category. Although not a widely used practice in Alaska, prescribed burning has been utilized as a hazard reduction and re-source management tool by the Bureau of Land Manage