Warm temperatures forecast for the weekend, combined with relatively dry weather over the past few weeks, have created an unusual situation in the Tongass: fire danger.
The Sitka Ranger District of the US Forest Service issued a very rare fire warning for the region over the weekend.
Perry Edwards, ecosystem staff for the district, says Tongass fires are caused by humans.
Edwards says only a few people are “red-carded” for wildland fire fighting in Sitka. If a large fire were to start, the district would have to bring in support from Hoonah and Thorne Bay.
