State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources
(Anchorage, AK) – Facing no opposition from the Alaska Legislature, an Executive Order introduced by Governor Mike Dunleavy in January to change the name of the Alaska Division of Forestry to the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection was approved on Friday, March 18.
The name change will go into effect on July 1, 2022. The new title more clearly reflects the public safety and fire suppression responsibilities of the agency, as well as its forestry duties, said Division of Forestry Director Helge Eng, who requested the name change. Many people are not aware of the Division’s firefighting responsibilities even though the agency provides wildland fire suppression for more than 152 million acres that includes the state’s most populated areas.
“This name change reinforces the fact that the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection is Alaska’s fire department and that wildland fire suppression is one of our two primary missions, along with forestry management,” Eng said. “Our firefighting mission has intensified in recent years with longer, more complex fire seasons in both Alaska and the Lower 48.”