The Anchorage Fire Department is asking the public to refrain from having open outdoor fires until weather conditions improve in Alaska's biggest city.
The National Weather Service warned of fire dangers in the Matanuska Valley early Friday morning but expanded the warning to include the Anchorage area, citing low humidity and "gusty afternoon winds."
"The use of outdoor fires (burn pits and campfires) outside of developed campgrounds has been prohibited until conditions moderate," AFD wrote in a release, later noting that all burn permits have been suspended.
The release said Southcentral's vegetation is expected to be "highly flammable" until green-up.
Fire dangers in the Anchorage area are expected to improve over the weekend, but overall, forecasters are expecting summer to be "challenging," the fire department wrote.
"Conditions are already challenging because of the minimal snow pack this year and lack of new growth in our vegetation," AFD Deputy Operations Chief James Vignola said in the release.
Anyone with questions is urged to call 907-267-5020. Those who ignore the restriction could face a $75 fine.