Here are two crises that are bad enough on their own — a worldwide pandemic and wildfires.
The Alaska Division of Forestry is taking proactive steps to try to prevent those two situations from overlapping.
Forestry announced Tuesday that all burn permits in the state will be suspended May 1. This is applicable to small- and large-scale burning on state, municipal and private lands.
At this time, barbecue grills and cooking, warming and signaling fires less than three feet in diameter will still be allowed, but that could change as fire season progresses.
"More than ever before, we need the public's help in reducing human-caused fires," said Tim Mowry, wildland fire public information officer with the Alaska Division of Forestry.
Forestry wants to do everything possible to prevent human-caused fires this year, given the impacts COVID-19 would have on fire response.
