Rising Arctic Flames

Nine diverse voices spoke to the increasing severity of Arctic and boreal wildland fire at the 10th anniversary Arctic Encounter Symposium last week. In a session convened by SEARCH Research & Program Management Fellow Alex Shahbazi and Co-Principal Investigator Francis Wiese, these voices presented three-minute lightning lenses on northern wildfire topics including human health, global carbon emissions, permafrost thaw, and policy. Co-chair of Gwich’in Council International and SEARCH member Edward Alexander introduced the Yukon Flats as a barometer for change in the broader boreal region and motivated our need to greatly expand our preparedness in both Alaska and across the circumpolar north. Presiding Officer of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly and SEARCH member Savannah Fletcher described the physical and mental impacts of wildland fire on interior Alaskans. Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Mohammad Heidari Kapourchali, dove into energy infrastructure and its connection to fire while Rebecca Alty, Mayor of the City of Yellowknife in Canada’s Northwest Territories, illustrated the evacuations that wildfire forced upon tens of thousands in her area last summer. The science of wildfire impacts were also explored with SEARCH member and owner of Alaska Ecoscience Torre Jorgenson giving a crash course in fire’s impacts on Alaskan permafrost and Sue Natali, Senior Scientist & Permafrost Pathways Lead with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, explaining its impacts on ecosystems. Jimmy Fox, Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge Manager, followed this by detailing USFWS’s novel fire management pilot project that fights wildfires to prevent carbon emissions. Finally, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council Morten Høglund urged increased collaboration on wildfire before Francis Wiese concluded with a nod towards the global ramifications of Arctic and boreal wildland fire. With dozens in attendance participating in a lively discussion moderated by Francis, the session achieved its goal of highlighting the breadth of diverse consequences brought by intensifying northern wildland fires.