The Burn Is About To Begin Here Comes The Smoke

Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest fire specialists will start burning operations in the Wenatchee River Ranger District beginning September 20th if weather and fuel conditions are conducive.

“Between now and the end of October controlled burns will occur in the greater Lake Wenatchee area, specifically near Loop Hill, Chiwawa Loop Road, near State Routes 207 and 209, and in the Natapoc Ridge area. We also plan to do some burning along the lower section of Blewett Pass Highway 97 near Leavenworth,” said District Fuels Technician Kevin Smith.

“We plan to ignite about 600 acres in the Loop Hill and lower Blewett Pass areas, and 100 acres in the Natapoc Ridge area,” Smith said.

Residents will see an increase in fire management traffic along Forest Service Roads 6121, 6601 and the Chiwawa Loop Road as units are prepared and then ignited. “We ask motorists to use caution while driving through these areas when fire personnel are present,” Smith said.

These forest fuels reduction actions are being taken to enhance forest health, improve wildlife habitat, reduce the amount of hazardous fuels in the area while decreasing the threat of wildland fire to local communities. They are also part of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Restoration Strategy. Forest Service managers began implementing the strategy in 1999 to reduce the threat of uncharacteristically severe fires and bring resiliency to unhealthy forest ecosystems.

All Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest controlled burns are weather-dependent and fire specialists will cease burning as soon as possible if objectives are not being met or weather conditions are unfavorable. Primary concerns include favorable winds that can minimize smoke impacts to public health and the risk of fire escape.

“We try to identify the best timeframes to conduct controlled fire treatments,” Smith said. Residents and area visitors will see smoke from these planned ignitions.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources regulates smoke management and must approve all controlled burns on national forests within the state. Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest fire specialists closely coordinate with the state’s air quality managers, after they receive burn approval.

Fire managers develop prescribed fire burn plans that address weather parameters, fuel moistures and smoke management along with other concerns, to identify the best times to conduct prescribed fire treatments.