Healthy Forests and Safety Top Goals for 2016 Prescribed Fire Season
Release Date: Sep 12, 2016
Wenatchee, WA — Starting this month, fire managers on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Forest) will begin utilizing the prescribed fire essential for healthy forests and better protected communities across the dry-side Cascade mountains. Key goals for prescribed fire include continuing efforts to improve forest health and public safety by returning fire to local fire-adapted ecosystems.
“Restoration matters. The right fire at the right time in the right place is an incredibly effective way to have a healthier Forest” said Fire Staff Officer, Keith Satterfield. “Prescribed fire is one way we are actively working to help restore the land and safely serve our communities.”
While nearly 8,000 acres are planned this fall, fewer acres may be treated through fire if conditions are not favorable. Conditions include correct temperature, wind, fuel moisture and ventilation for smoke. When these criteria are met, crews implement, monitor, and patrol each burn to ensure it meets the forest health and public safety goals outlined by fire managers.
“Community smoke concerns are our concerns as well” added Satterfield. “Each burn is coordinated with the National Weather Service and the state Department of Natural Resources to minimize the unavoidable impacts, such as smoke, as much as possible.”
Residents and visitors can expect to see and smell some smoke each day during burning operations. For more information on smoke and public health, please visit: wasmoke.blogspot.com
Several planned burns will be conducted collaboratively as a part of the Forest Resiliency Burning Pilot Project passed by the Washington State Legislature in the spring of 2016. Participants in this pilot include the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, North Central Washington Forest Health Collaborative, Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition, and Washington Prescribed Fire Council.
For fire information, maps, and updates 24 hours-a-day, visit:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/OkaWenNF/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/OkaWenNF
- Text message: text ‘follow OkaWenNF’ to 40404
Fall 2016 priority prescribed fire by Ranger District
Chelan Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Grouse Mountain |
537 |
18 miles NW of Chelan, WA |
Forest Mountain |
405 |
11 miles W of Chelan, WA |
Bear Mountain |
26 |
6 miles W of Chelan, WA between Navarre and Knapp Coulees |
Cle Elem Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Liberty Fuels 52-56 |
111 |
17 miles NE of Cle Elum, WA |
Orion 2 |
200 |
16 miles NE of Cle Elum, WA west of HWY 97 |
Orion 8 |
173 |
13 miles NE of Cle Elum, WA |
Orion 3 |
45 |
15 miles NE of Cle Elum, WA |
Entiat Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Lower Tyee |
1512 |
3-7 miles NW of Ardenvoir, WA |
Forest Johnson |
367 |
9 miles W of Chelan, WA |
North Fork Potato |
71 |
5 miles N of Ardenvoir, WA |
Methow Valley Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Goat |
1070 |
2 miles SE of Mazama, WA |
Lucky |
56 |
6 miles NW of Winthrop, WA |
Eightmile Bottom |
479 |
8 miles N of Winthrop, WA |
Upper Rendezvous |
936 |
8 miles SW of Winthrop, WA |
Naches Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Angel |
370 |
30 miles W of Yakima, WA near SR 410 |
Canteen |
180 |
30 miles W of Yakima, WA near Mt. Clemans |
Tonasket Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
North Flank |
238 |
3 miles S of Havillah, WA |
Bailey Restoration |
45 |
SE of Tonasket, WA |
Wenatchee River Ranger District:
Project Name |
Acres |
Location |
Fishpole |
370 |
1 mile SW of Fish Lake |
Natapoc |
180 |
1-2 miles W of Plain, WA |
Chumstick |
580 |
6 miles NNE of Leavenworth, WA |
*Additional prescribed fire acres and pile burns may be conducted if favorable conditions allow.
Low to moderate intensity fire helps restore the forest and remove unhealthy woody fuel build-up north of Plain, WA on September 9, 2016. Credit: USFS/ Paul Laak
Firefighters from Washington DNR and the US Forest Service return healthy fire to the ecosystem north of Plain, WA on September 9, 2016. Credit: USFS/ Paul Laak