Land Clearing Open Burn Information
DEC manages open burns to minimize health impacts from smoke and keep Alaska’s air clean. Open burning regulated by DEC includes agricultural / development land clearing fires, land management fires, incinerators that do not meet emission standards in 18 AAC 50.050, and fire fighter training with fuel and structures. This page only pertains to land clearing open burns.
If you plan on burning, or clearing and burning more than 40 acres in a year, you need a Land Clearing Open Burn Approval from DEC.
You need a black smoke approval permit from DEC if you intend to burn petroleum-based materials, asphalt, rubber products, or other materials in a way that gives off black smoke.
Questions about the DEC application process should be directed as follows:
- Northern/Interior Alaska: 907-451-5173
- Southcentral/Southwest Alaska: 907-465-5117
- Southeast Alaska: 907-465-5103
If you are planning on burning, or clearing and burning less than 40 acres in a year, including burn piles and/or yard burns, you need a permit from the DNR Division of Forestry
Before you burn, determine if any burn suspensions or air quality advisories apply to your area. Open burning is prohibited during Forestry Burn Suspensions and Closures, DEC Air Quality Advisories, and local government burning suspensions.
- DNR - Division of Forestry Burn Suspensions and Closure Media Releases
- Alaska Interagency Coordination Center - Alaska Fire Service
- DEC Air Quality Advisory
- Municipality of Anchorage: 907-267-5020
- Fairbanks North Star Borough (Nov. 1 through March 31): 907-459-1325
- City and Borough of Juneau: 907-586-5333
Local air quality reports:
- Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Air Quality recording: 907-459-1234
- City and Borough of Juneau: 907-586-5333
- Municipality of Anchorage Air Quality Hotline: 907-343-4899
To report a wildland fire in Alaska call: 1-800-237-3633 or call 911.
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