Department of Natural Resources receives $550K Good Neighbor…

AWARD PURPOSETHIS AWARD COMPLETES A FUELS TREATMENT ALONG A SEGMENT OF FUEL BREAK NORTH OF HAYSTACK ROAD NEAR FAIRBANKS, ALASKA. THE PURPOSE IS TO CREATE A CONTINUOUS, FUNCTIONAL FUEL BREAK THAT SUPPORTS WILDFIRE CONTROL, PROTECTS NEARBY HOMES AND PROPERTY, AND STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY SAFETY. THE PROJECT REDUCES HAZARDOUS VEGETATION ON STATE LAND AND ADJACENT FEDERAL LAND SO FIRE CREWS CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY SLOW OR STOP A WILDFIRE THREATENING THE COMMUNITY OF HAYSTACK. THE GOAL IS TO FINISH THE REMAINING SECTION OF THE BREAK, ENHANCE LOCAL WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, AND DECREASE RISKS TO RESPONDERS AND RESIDENTS.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMEDTHE ALASKA DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION WORKS WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TO COMPLETE THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE FUEL BREAK USING MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AND LIMITED HANDCREW SUPPORT. A CONTRACTOR PERFORMS THE MECHANICAL WORK UNDER A SINGLE CONTRACT. TOGETHER THESE ACTIVITIES CLEAR AND THIN VEGETATION TO CREATE AN APPROXIMATELY TWELVEMILELONG, THREEHUNDREDFOOTWIDE CONTINUOUS BREAK THAT REDUCES HAZARDOUS FUELS AND IMPROVES CONDITIONS FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS.EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMESTHE PROJECT PRODUCES A COMPLETED FUEL BREAK THAT REDUCES FIRE INTENSITY, SLOWS WILDFIRE SPREAD, AND PROVIDES A SAFE, DEFENSIBLE AREA THAT FIRE CREWS CAN USE DURING SUPPRESSION. EXPECTED RESULTS INCLUDE IMPROVED PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, REDUCED WILDFIRERELATED DAMAGES, LOWER SUPPRESSION COSTS DUE TO PROACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT, AND A MORE FIREADAPTED COMMUNITY. THE COMPLETED BREAK ALSO DECREASES RISK TO FIREFIGHTERS AND LIMITS THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE TO SPREAD ONTO NEARBY FEDERAL LANDS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIESTHE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE RESIDENTS ALONG HAYSTACK ROAD WHO GAIN GREATER PROTECTION FROM WILDFIRE. FIRE CREWS BENEFIT FROM SAFER OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS AND IMPROVED ACCESS FOR SUPPRESSION. ADJACENT FEDERAL LANDS MANAGED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ALSO BENEFIT FROM REDUCED WILDFIRE SPREAD AND SEVERITY. THE BROADER PUBLIC GAINS FROM INCREASED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, REDUCED EMERGENCY RESPONSE COSTS, AND ENHANCED SAFETY FOR RESPONDERS AND RESIDENTS.