SPOKANE, Wash. — Controlled fire burns are set to begin in the Colville National Forest as early as next week.
Controlled or prescribed burns are thoroughly planned, intentionally set fires used to manage ecosystems where fire would naturally occur. According to the U.S. National Park Service, “a prescribed fire is a planned fire,” and the planning that goes into prescribed burns is extensive.
Before burning, managers must account for the amount of flammable material or “fuel load” in an area, the safety of people and property in the surrounding regions, how weather conditions might affect the fire, and how likely a controlled burn is to meet a set of predetermined goals.
Fire specialists aim to minimize smoke impacts and follow the Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Smoke Management Plan.
Smoke from controlled burns might affect nearby areas; travelers should exercise caution. For information on air quality and active prescribed fires, visit https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow.
A real-time map of planned, active, and completed burns is available at https://tinyurl.com/27sms4xv.
For more information, contact the nearest district office:
Tonasket Ranger District, Tonasket: 509-486-2186Republic Ranger District, Republic: 509-775-7400Three Rivers Ranger District, Kettle Falls: 509-738-7700Newport Ranger District, Newport: 509-447-7300Supervisor’s Office, Colville: 509-684-7000
Stay updated on Colville National Forest news at https://www.fs.usda.gov/colville.
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