Alaska Gov. Bill Walker recognized Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, and Kansas state forester Larry Biles, with a certificate of appreciation for the role the Kansas Forest Service played in helping fight Alaska’s wildfires throughout the 2015 fire season.
In a letter expressing gratitude for Kansas’ contributions to the effort, Gov. Walker mentioned this was the second worst fire season that Alaska has seen since the 1950s, with more than five million acres burned.
“We were greatly assisted in our fighting of these fires because of efforts and resources provided from the Lower 48 and Canada, standing alongside our own Alaskan crews,” Walker wrote. “From ground crews and heavy equipment operators, to smoke jumpers, helicopter and plane crews and pilots, and everyone in between, I offer my heartfelt gratitude.”
Individually, Kansas wildland firefighters supported recent firefighting efforts for a combined total of 463 days on 31 fire incidents in eight states, including Alaska.
For more information about the Kansas Forest Service at Kansas State University, visit www.kansasforests.org.
