The purpose of the BBNA/FFMP Forestry Program plans for the management of the forest resources of individually owned Native allotments. The plan is to provide general policy directives for forest and fire management activities to ensure adherence to statutory and regulatory requirements protecting timber, fisheries, wildlife, cultural, and other resources on Native allotments within the Bristol Bay region.
BBNA’s Forestry Program Maintains communications between fire response officials and monitors fires in the Bristol Bay Region.
DID YOU KNOW? The Division of Forestry (DOF) has been designated the fire suppression agency for the Bristol Bay region and provides for crews and equipment necessary to protect Native allotments. Spring/ summer 2021 Bristol Bay experienced only one reported fire and operates Under the Wild land Fire Management Plan.
In case of all Wild lands Fire Emergencies: FIRST contact Local Enforcement: VPSO / STATE TROOPERS/And/or 911 to report a fire. You can also call statewide wild land fire reporting at 1-800- 237-3633 or BBNA/ LMS Director/Realty Officer and/or LMS staff at 1-800-478-5257 or 907-842-5257.
As long as there are adequate resources, all Native Allotments will be classified under Full or Critical protection. LMS will give updates to landowners, agencies and media as needed. BBNA’s service covers Native Allotments ONLY, although we will help on other lands if we can.
Ways to Prepare and Prevent!
- Approximately 90% of all wildfires in the U.S. are started by humans!
- Fires can be started from various tasks such as lightning strikes, unattended debris burning, campfires, lit cigarettes or butts thrown on the ground, fireworks, and running machinery such as chainsaws.
- Depending on weather and fuels, a fire can spread very quickly. The Card Street fire of 2015 was first reported at 1 acre and quickly grew to 1,200 acres on the first day and 9,000 acres by the second.
- Use common sense: If it looks dry outside or if it’s windy, DON’T BURN.
- Always check to make sure there is not a burn ban in effect for your area.
- If you are burning debris, have an adequate water supply nearby such as a garden hose that is ready to go. If you start a campfire, have a 5 gallon bucket of water or dirt nearby.
- Fires Started by lightning strikes cannot be prevented, but ones started by humans can. Educate everyone from young ones to elders.
The BBNA Fire and Forest Management Plan
Wildfire monitoring program: BBNA’s Forestry Program Maintains communications between fire response officials and monitors fires in the Bristol Bay Region. Keep abreast of forest fire threats to Native allotments.
BBNA Forestry Staff and Land Management Services collect information, and following protocols for fire response.
- Monitoring fire-watch sites and staying in contact with officials at the Alaska Fire Service (AFS), Bureau of Land Management, and other Native organizations in the region.
- Following an established fire management reporting system under the wild land fire management plan.
- Following the Fire Management Plan on Native Allotment parcels within BBNA’s service area.
- Responding to requests by AFS to locate allotments in the field during fire calls.
- Assisting with the investigation and preparation of reports involving timber and fire trespass on Native allotments. Forestry Program field crew burning brush they removed from native allotments. Keeping a daily Fire activity log Contribute to the overall team effort.
The Thinning Project
The Forestry Program provides a services to native allotment owners in the region by thinning out dead trees on allotments which are a fuel in forest fires. This projects helps in the protections of native allotment lands. Our work consist of thinning and removing of fuel (brush, trees and dead fall) from around native allotments and homes to protect them from wildfires. We have completed 6 household allotments with 4 to complete this year along with 1 large allotment that was finished in 2020 for 15 acres completed. The large allotment (240 acres) has a 50ft wide clear-cut removal of all fuels around it to protect it from wild land fires and also open it to development. These thinning and hazardous fuels projects help protect people’s house and land from risk of fire while also creating local jobs. We have started fuels reduction and thinning development on another large allotment and development done.