The Anchorage Fire Department issued a high fire danger alert on Tuesday, asking people to be extra careful about burning during the next three days of expected high temperatures, gusty winds and no rain.
"We're asking people to refrain from open campfires," said John See, fire department spokesman. "They can use the chimeneas or the portable fireplaces that are on legs with screens."
However, See said, if wind gusts exceed 10 mph, "all those options are off the table" since an ember can escape and start a blaze. Even leaving a burning cigarette on the ground can quickly start a fire, See said.
Around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Anchorage firefighters were called to a brush and grass fire off East Sixth Avenue. The suspected cause of the fire was a discarded cigarette, See said. He said firefighters were able to knock the fire down in about four minutes.
"We're very much in fire season," he said.
The @afdinfo has issued a HIGH FIRE DANGER ALERT! for #Anchorage. Very warm & dry #AKwx will continue thru Thurs. pic.twitter.com/9nDvi8bqsm
— NWS Anchorage (@NWSAnchorage) June 14, 2016
The National Weather Service forecast high temperatures through Friday with the worst winds overnight Tuesday, said Meteorologist Joe Wegman.
The agency Wednesday forecast for Anchorage included highs in the 70s with winds up to 15 mph. On Thursday, the forecast is for sunny skies, highs in the lower 70s to lower 80s and winds up to 10 mph.
"The warmer it is, the more likelihood that you could get a fire going," Wegman said.
But by the weekend, temperatures are expected to drop, clouds to roll in and rain to fall.
"Right now the weather forecast looks like another really nasty weekend — rainy, cool, windy," Wegman said. "A wash-out almost."