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

Gal Ne 422,838 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 9, 2021
Colorado2,522 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 10, 2021
Smt S 252,506 ac
1986 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Mhm Se 272,461 ac
1986 · perimeter dated January 20, 2010
6310292,188 ac
1986 · perimeter dated January 28, 2010
Cottonwood1,962 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 10, 2021
Mhm Sw 601,491 ac
1986 · perimeter dated January 21, 2010
Mhm Se 361,420 ac
1986 · perimeter dated January 21, 2010
Gal Sw 921,419 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 12, 2021
West Fork1,341 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 10, 2021
6310161,270 ac
1986 · perimeter dated April 24, 2007
Big River1,155 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 10, 2021
Middle Fork1,071 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 10, 2021
Tal Ne 801,071 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 9, 2021
Von Frank1,057 ac
1986 · perimeter dated November 12, 2021
60 Mile1,052 ac
1986 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Gal W 761,009 ac
1986 · perimeter dated January 28, 2010
53104780,440 ac
1985 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
53101853,909 ac
1985 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
53103534,192 ac
1985 · perimeter dated October 21, 2008
Fyu Ne 8033,505 ac
1985 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Gal Ne 5733,438 ac
1985 · perimeter dated October 24, 2007
Tal Nw 8516,426 ac
1985 · perimeter dated March 14, 2008
Hus Nw 2314,583 ac
1985 · perimeter dated October 24, 2007
53102311,814 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Katlitna8,804 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
5310217,177 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Selatna6,855 ac
1985 · perimeter dated January 23, 2024
Otz Ne 1005,375 ac
1985 · perimeter dated January 13, 2010
Sugarloaf5,191 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Camelback4,605 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Yukon Delta Nwr 24,391 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 18, 2019
5310533,881 ac
1985 · perimeter dated March 14, 2019
Kasigluk (504039)3,124 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Way Up N #21,880 ac
1985 · perimeter dated April 26, 2007
Anv Ne 701,481 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Harry1,431 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Tal Nw 441,400 ac
1985 · perimeter dated November 5, 2021
Hus Sw 231,340 ac
1985 · perimeter dated February 28, 2008
5310551,312 ac
1985 · perimeter dated July 30, 2020

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.