SPOKANE, Wash. — Prescribed burns return to Turnbull, south of Cheney, this month, and are expected to be conducted intermittently through February.
Controlled burning of dry fuels happened at the Wildlife Refuge in the winter of 2023, as well, in an ongoing effort for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce the risk of wildfire, while simultaneously restoring the natural habitat of the forested area.
“Safety is the number one priority during a prescribed burn,” said Project Leader Kelly Moroney. “We will work with federal, state, and county agencies and departments to complete these prescribed fire projects throughout the next several months.”
Prescribed burns are conducted by experienced fire management professionals. These projects require detailed burn plans, strict safety measures and monitoring for ideal weather and wind conditions, to keep the fires from spreading or growing too large to manage. Because winter weather varies in our region, burn days are not determined until a day before, or a few days before they are conducted.
Motorists driving in the Turnbull area in the winter of 2025-2026 should watch for temporary road and/or public use areas, to allow for firefighting equipment and personnel to do their prescribed work.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 23,000 acres in eastern Washington on the edge of the Columbia River Basin. Ponderosa pine, wetlands, meadow steppe and riparian habitat dominate the landscape and provide a home for herds of elk, moose, river otters, beavers, and over 180 bird species including migrating and nesting waterfowl.
Direct any questions regarding prescribed burns this winter to the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters at (509) 235-4723.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducts prescribed burn near Cheney
MORE PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Large plume of smoke is a prescribed burn at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
COPYRIGHT 2024 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
