North Slope Borough says fuel supply issues continue in Anaktuvuk Pass
Fuel deliveries to Anaktuvuk Pass were disrupted by -40°F weather and aircraft problems, and borough officials say the village is still not out of the woods.
Anaktuvuk Pass is still dealing with fuel supply constraints after an emergency declaration let officials move faster on response steps, including overland delivery. Residents should call 907-661-3511 for fuel-related emergencies as the borough continued to work on the problem.
The borough first warned on Jan. 7, 2026, that the village was facing a fuel shortage after severe and prolonged extreme weather, including temperatures below -40°F, and aircraft mechanical issues disrupted regularly scheduled deliveries. Officials were in daily contact with Everts Air Cargo, the carrier that normally brings fuel to Anaktuvuk Pass. Mayor Josiah Aullaqsruaq Patkotak signed a Declaration of Emergency two days later, saying the shortage had reached levels that posed critical threats to the life, health and safety of all community residents.
That declaration gave the borough authority to move ahead with critical response actions without waiting for routine state and federal approvals. On Jan. 14, Everts Air had successfully delivered fuel the previous Friday, Jan. 9, but the situation remained an active response to fuel supply constraints rather than a problem that had been fully cleared.
North Slope Borough describes the village as a remote community nestled between the Anaktuvuk and John Rivers in the Brooks Range. North Slope communities traditionally rely on diesel-generated or natural-gas-generated electricity, while heating usually comes from heating oil or natural gas. In a village like Anaktuvuk Pass, that means any delay in fuel delivery can affect heat, power and transportation at the same time.
Anaktuvuk Pass has one 150,000-gallon diesel tank, two 7,000-gallon transfer tanks and one 30,000-gallon gas tank, according to borough fuel documents. When those supplies are under pressure, even short disruptions can ripple into homes, local services and emergency readiness.
By mid-January, the shortage had lasted a week, forced school closures and left homes without heat. UIC Oil & Gas Support later carried out an emergency fuel haul to Anaktuvuk Pass in February.
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