Scientists believe that lightning-caused fires have occurred in Alaska's boreal forest and tundra since at least the last ice age, 10,000 years ago.

Fire records compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management show that in interior Alaska, during the 20 years between 1980 and 2001 lightning, accounting for 90 percent of the lands burned, ignited more than 4,000 fires. These lightning-caused fires burned nearly 5.3 million hectares of boreal forest and tundra providing clear evidence that lightning-caused fires are a powerful, natural phenomenon.

The upper Tanana River valley, with elevations near 350 metres is bordered on the south by the Alaska Range cresting in this area at 2000 to 3000 metres forming a barrier for migrating birds.