DisasterAtlasUSA

This is a record of past federal disaster declarations, not a forecast. Federal assistance figures are aid obligated under specific programs, not total damages. For current threats, check the National Weather Service and FEMA.

Home / Wildfires / Alaska

Alaska Large Wildfire History

Since 1980, 1,662 wildfires of 1,000 acres or more have been mapped in Alaska, 106 of them above 100,000 acres. The largest burned 558,929 ac; together they cover about 44,755,353 ac.

Fires by decade

'80
'90
'00
'10

What starts the fires in Alaska

Every wildfire incident on record has a cause code. Counts are of incidents, not acres — lightning fires are fewer but tend to grow far larger.

By broad cause
Human52%401k ac
Natural43%16.1M ac
Undetermined3%1.4M ac
Unknown1%783k ac
Specific cause, where recorded
Lightning614
Debris / open burning368
Natural (other)267
Recreation248
Equipment / vehicle use129
Firearms44
Arson / incendiary20
Railroad1

Source: National Interagency Fire Center, WFIGS incident records (WFIGS incident records, roughly 2014 to present). A specific cause is recorded for only some incidents; “Undetermined” and “Unknown” are the agency's own categories.

Largest in Alaska

832015 · 1988558,929 acBoundary · 2004538,652 acMinto Flats South · 2009534,912 acDall City · 2004500,352 acInowak · 1997489,738 acBilly Creek · 2004462,173 acFyu Ne 85 · 1990433,768 acNorth Dag · 2004424,463 acPingo · 2004356,476 acLittle Black One · 2009349,451 ac

All mapped large fires

Paradise32,066 ac
1992 · perimeter dated January 9, 2024
Btt S 4829,377 ac
1992 · perimeter dated April 16, 2007
2322666,499 ac
1992 · perimeter dated January 10, 2024
Cem Nw 455,005 ac
1992 · perimeter dated January 9, 2024
Cem Nw 424,520 ac
1992 · perimeter dated April 16, 2007
Cem Sw 503,127 ac
1992 · perimeter dated January 10, 2024
Cem Wnw 733,003 ac
1992 · perimeter dated April 19, 2007
Fyu E 752,495 ac
1992 · perimeter dated April 16, 2007
131569233,101 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Btt Wsw 84187,908 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
132562145,014 ac
1991 · perimeter dated November 12, 2008
13224186,444 ac
1991 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
13246075,207 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Cem Ne 2056,431 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Liv N 1848,565 ac
1991 · perimeter dated November 5, 2008
Mhm N 2542,326 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
13237641,530 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
Btt S 1738,877 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Cem E 5537,834 ac
1991 · perimeter dated March 6, 2008
13233935,314 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 25, 2008
13261435,268 ac
1991 · perimeter dated July 27, 2018
Btt S 4933,596 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
13165528,969 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Tal S 3228,310 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Hsl Nnw 3724,128 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Fyu Ne 6521,397 ac
1991 · perimeter dated November 12, 2008
Dck E 6520,025 ac
1991 · perimeter dated July 27, 2018
Wellesley18,768 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 25, 2008
Tal Ne 3718,638 ac
1991 · perimeter dated December 22, 2023
Vee Sw 2418,201 ac
1991 · perimeter dated November 13, 2008
Mhm W 5517,536 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Btt Ss 5317,102 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Cross16,621 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Tal N 2516,025 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
13161515,040 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
13149214,864 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
13146214,399 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
Twin12,726 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Gal Ne 3011,118 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Galickson10,818 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024

Source: National Interagency Fire Center, Interagency Fire Perimeter History. Only fires with a mapped perimeter of 1,000 acres or more appear; the state is inferred from the responsible unit code. A record of past fires is not a forecast. See About the Data.