Tok wildfire preparations yield wood for biofuels project

May 29, 2010

Tok resident Jason Sakalaskas says clearing brush near his home as a fire break reminds him of spring cleaning. (Jonathan Hartford/KTUU-DT)

by Ted Land
Friday, May 28, 2010

TOK, Alaska -- The Eagle Trail fire near Tok has now burned more than 4,000 acres very close to homes. So far no structures have been lost, which the Alaska Division of Forestry credits to many residents planning for the worst.

The key to fighting a wildfire is to think a few hundred yards ahead: find materials that might fuel it, and get them out of the way.

"Reminds you of the spring cleaning that you need to do around the house to keep the fires away," said Tok resident Jason Sakalaskas.

When the fire came within miles of his home, Sakalaskas took no chances.

"A little bit nervous, but lived here in Tok during the other fires and stuff like that, so just monitor and be as prepared as you can," Sakalaskas said.

"The black spruce is extremely volatile, and when you get this burning it burns very hot, very quickly," said the division's Dave Stancliff.

Officials used to simply burn the cleared wood, but now it comes to the Tok Biofuels Bank. The Division of Forestry grinds up the branches and stores the fuel next to the local school in an old hockey rink. Next school year, an advanced biofuel heater will burn the wood to keep students warm.

"Burns at 2,600 degrees, no smoke, low stack temperatures, zero carbon, renewable fuel," Stancliff said.

But not all of Tok is safe. Thousands of acres are still clogged with dense, dry fuel, which forestry officials say will keep firefighters busy for days.

"This is a long-term thing, we think," said the division's Jeff Hermanns. "Unless we get a dramatic, dramatic change in weather, this definitely is a long-term thing."

A lot depends on area winds this weekend. If they come from the west, they'll push the fire toward Tok and nearby subdivisions. If they blow from the east, that might allow crews to stop the fire in its tracks.

Contact Ted Land at tland@ktuu.com

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