Good fire projects planned across 3,500 National Forest acres

Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2020 1:18 pm

U.S. Forest Service

NCW - This fall, firefighters across Central Washington will once again be using fire to help restore watersheds and better protect nearby communities. Excluded from the ecosystem for nearly 100 years, frequent, low-intensity fire is essential for restoring public lands and the communities who depend on them.

“We are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions to start prescribed burning where we can safely do so. It is important for us to be proactive when we have these fall burning opportunities,” said Forest Fire Management Officer Rob Allen.

Just over 3,500 acres of prescribed burning is planned this fall, but fewer acres may be completed if conditions are not favorable. Conditions include correct temperature, wind, fuel moisture, and ventilation for smoke. When these criteria are met, firefighters implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets forest health and public safety goals including air quality.

“These prescribed fire projects reduce the amount of burnable fuels in the forest and help lower the risk of future high-intensity wildfires and related dense smoke,” Allen said.

Residents and visitors can expect to see and smell some smoke during burning operations. For more information on smoke and public health, please visit wasmoke.blogspot.com

Prescribed burning operations are planned on national forest lands in the following counties.

Okanogan County:

· Benzer project, 76 acres, located 11 miles SE of Twisp

· Upper Rendezvous, 210 acres, located 8 miles NW of Winthrop

· Lost Driveway hand pile burning project, 646 acres adjacent to the community of Mazama,

· Eightmile/Chewuch project, 17 acres, 5 miles north of Winthrop

· South Summit, 853 acres near Mt. Leecher, 11 miles SE of Twisp

· North Summit, a single hand pile at the sno-park near Loup Loup Ski Bowl

Yakima County:

· Benton Creek project, 100 acres, located 15 miles NW of Naches

· Yellow Jacket Creek, 54 acres, 17 miles NW of Naches,

· Three projects totaling 1,570 acres, located in the S. Fork of Wenas Creek in the Four Corners Junction area approximately 16 miles NW of Naches