Commuters Alert: Honor Procession for Fallen Wildland Firefighter Greg King Begins at 5 p.m.
Greg King, an Alaska wildland firefighter and helicopter pilot who was killed Sept. 20 while fighting the Dome Fire in California. Courtesy Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection.
A fallen Alaska wildland firefighter is coming home to Palmer today, and his honor procession will move through the Anchorage-to-Mat-Su commute during the busiest part of the afternoon.
Drivers heading north this afternoon should be prepared for possible traffic slowdowns beginning around 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 29, as an Honor Guard Procession brings home fallen wildland firefighter and helicopter pilot Greg King.
The procession will begin in Anchorage at 5 p.m. and continue toward Palmer, according to the notice issued for King’s return.
Who Was Greg King?
King was one of two pilots killed September 20 when a firefighting helicopter crashed while conducting water drops on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, California.
King was flying for Precision Helicopters, a contract aviation company supporting wildland firefighting operations. The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection said King had served on wildland fires in Alaska and worked extensively alongside the division.
The agency described King as a cherished member of Alaska’s wildland fire community. His ties to the division also ran deep because close family members work for the agency.
King was part of an Idaho-based wildland firefighting operation assigned to the Dome Fire. The helicopter, an AS332 Super Puma, went down near Ostrander Lake while the pilots were conducting water drops. King and fellow pilot Ryan Cutter were the only people aboard. The crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
According to the Payette National Forest, King’s remains are being returned to Palmer via Palmer Airport today, followed by an honor procession bringing him home to his family.
What Commuters Need To Know
The timing is the big issue for drivers.
The procession begins at 5 p.m., during the afternoon rush.
Anyone traveling north on the Glenn Highway from Anchorage toward Eagle River and the Mat-Su Valley should allow extra time and be prepared for traffic to slow as the procession moves through the area.
Drivers may encounter law enforcement, emergency vehicles and a line of vehicles participating in or supporting the procession.
The exact street-by-street procession route and timing through the Anchorage and Mat-Su Valley were not included in the public notice available to us, so drivers should not assume a specific interchange or milepost will remain unaffected.
Check Before You Go
For the latest road conditions, traffic speeds, incidents, cameras, roadwork and special-event information, check Alaska 511 before leaving and again during your trip.
Alaska 511 allows drivers to view current traffic information and road conditions, including incidents and special events.
And if you encounter the procession: slow down, give emergency and escort vehicles plenty of room, and follow directions from law enforcement.
For many Alaskans, this is more than a traffic event.
It is a firefighter coming home.
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