Anchorage Daily News

The Anchorage Fire Department has suspended all burn permits until further notice because of dry weather and rising temperatures.

The ban goes into effect today. It will be lifted when there's a change in the weather, the fire department said.

Fires in an approved outdoor fireplace or barbeque grill will be allowed as long as the firepits or grills meet these conditions:

-- They are no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet tall;

-- They sit on a non-combustible surface or at least 12 inches from the ground with a screen or lid covering the top;

-- They are located at least 15 feet from adjacent structures.

Current weather conditions raise the risk of wildland fire, spokeswoman Jennifer Klugh said. There's only been 1/100th of an inch of precipitation since May 12 in most of the Anchorage area, she noted.

Fueling the fire department concerns - and perhaps fueling any fires that may spark - are tall grasses that aren't yet fully green and have a deep layer of dead grass at their base. If ignited, a grass fire can spread rapidly, Klugh said.

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