A series of wildfires near Anchorage, Alaska and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious, untenable blazes in urban areas.
This is the new reality in Alaska’s largest city, where a recent series of wildfires near Anchorage and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious, untenable blazes in urban areas — just like in the rest of the drought-plagued American West.The risk is particularly high in the city’s burgeoning Anchorage Hillside neighborhood, where multi-million dollar homes have pushed further and further up steep slopes and to the forest’s edge.
The city also has limited wildfire equipment, and it’s nearly impossible to get a fire engine up some switchback roads to homes nestled high up mountains. That same small neighborhood with but one road in and out has also discussed installing sirens to warn residents on the city’s wooded fringes of fire danger and hopes to build a database of all residents for emergency communications.
More than 4,844 square miles burned statewide last year — an area just under the size of Connecticut.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wildfires in Anchorage? Climate change sparks disaster fearsResearch on a flat spot for air evacuations
Read more »
Climate change sparks fears in Anchorage of wildfires becoming more routineThis is the new reality, where a series of recent wildfires and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could translate into serious blazes like those in the rest of the American West.
Read more »
Wildfires in Anchorage? Climate change sparks disaster fearsA recent series of wildfires and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious for Anchorage.
Read more »
As Anchorage's mass shelter winds down, workers push to smooth transition for homeless residentsSome people staying in the Sullivan Arena say they expect to sleep outside when the shelter closes to most people on Monday. Others hope they'll finally make it to the top of a housing waitlist they’ve been on. Others have no idea where they’ll go next.
Read more »
Anchorage Opera’s feline diva Pamina is the star of the showPamina the cat showed up at the door one day and has been a member of the opera company ever since.
Read more »
Anchorage student fentanyl use prompts school district response, including more kits to reverse overdosesThe Anchorage School District is ramping up efforts to educate students, staff and parents about the dangers of fentanyl amid an increase in use of the synthetic opioid by students.
Read more »