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

Scottie Mtn1,993 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 8, 2024
Tal Sw 561,831 ac
1991 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
1322391,771 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 17, 2007
Tal N 201,630 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 8, 2024
Tal N 171,542 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 8, 2024
Big Rex1,498 ac
1991 · perimeter dated April 25, 2008
1312521,383 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 8, 2024
Berry1,285 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 5, 2024
1323061,198 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 8, 2024
Mhm N 251,121 ac
1991 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
Fyu Ne 85433,768 ac
1990 · perimeter dated November 13, 2008
Btts S 40289,914 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
032018287,704 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
Birch Hill159,775 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
032038152,789 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
Moose Crk139,821 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
032042125,995 ac
1990 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Kokwim116,527 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
Tok River96,001 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
Dennis74,287 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
03205166,443 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 15, 2010
Gal N 3865,087 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
Tal N 4762,212 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 4, 2024
03106155,042 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
Round50,001 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 25, 2010
03106049,142 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 20, 2010
03203448,868 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
03104447,932 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Tal Se 9244,216 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 20, 2010
Bonnie40,507 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Clear Fork40,390 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
Hoyle32,417 ac
1990 · perimeter dated December 29, 2023
03106231,870 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Meadow30,761 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Btt Sw 5327,858 ac
1990 · perimeter dated April 18, 2007
03203327,594 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Tal Se 8725,084 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 20, 2010
Where21,435 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 2024
Military #820,925 ac
1990 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Military #718,599 ac
1990 · perimeter dated January 2, 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.