DNR Planning Prescribed Burn on 717 Acres in Yakima County

A prescribed fire operation to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire while promoting forest health and improving wildlife habitat near Yakima may begin as soon as Friday, October 16.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is planning a prescribed fire operation this fall on up to 662 acres of state trust lands and 55 acres of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands about 19 miles northwest of Yakima. This is the continuation of a prescribed burn plan partially completed last month and will include Unit 1, visible on this map.

Click here to view the general location on Google Maps.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is committed to conducting all prescribed fires with safety as the number one priority. Staff follow a burn plan drafted to guide operations within a specific range of optimal weather and ground conditions for the prescribed burn to meet its objectives.

This burn is focused primarily on reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire in the area by consuming slash and surface-level fuels. It will also accelerate natural regeneration on the landscape and reduce the threat of insect and disease outbreaks.

Because safety is paramount when conducting prescribed burns, slight changes to expected conditions the day of a burn may require delaying or postponing a burn on short notice.

Please sign up for the notification system on the DNR burn portal website to receive location-specific alerts about upcoming prescribed burns. Information about current and recent DNR-led prescribed burns will be entered on the agency wildfire portal.

This burn is within the boundaries of the Central Washington Prescribed Fire Smoke Management Pilot Project, a multi-agency effort to increase the safe use of prescribed fire, reduce wildfire risk, and improve smoke readiness for communities across Central Washington. Federal, state, tribal, and local partners are working together to coordinate planning, outreach, air-quality monitoring, and public health protections so prescribed burns can be implemented more effectively while minimizing smoke impacts.

Smoke Management and Closure Information

Those who are sensitive to wildfire smoke should be prepared to take similar precautions for a prescribed fire in their area:

• Check local air quality at fire.airnow.gov during and after a prescribed burn.
• Children and youth, older adults, pregnant people, and people with chronic health conditions should take steps to reduce exposure when it is smoky. Seek medical attention if symptoms worsen.
• If smoke worsens:
  • Stay indoors and close windows, if possible. Keep windows closed at night.
  • Wear an N95 mask if you must be outside when it is smoky.
  • Limit the duration and intensity of outdoor physical activity.
• If you are unable to maintain clean air at home, go elsewhere for cleaner air, such as a friend's or family member's home, a public space, or an unaffected area.

For more information, including tips to keep the air in your home clean, visit the DNR Smoke Resources webpage.

Smoke may be visible on nearby roadways. Areas within the burn unit will close to both vehicle and foot traffic of all types during burn operations. Impacted roads will include, but not be limited to, Bethel Ridge Road and Meloy Canyon Road (also known as Washington State Green Dot Road R-5100).

Roadblocks will be in use as the burn progresses. As with the burn itself, the exact timing of when a roadblock will be installed or removed is subject to change. The first set of roadblocks will most likely be in place on Monday and Tuesday. The second set of roadblocks will most likely be in place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Please call Chris Brandon at 509-899-4825 or Will Rubin at 360-764-0854 with questions about road access.

Outdoor recreationists and hunters are always encouraged to check closure information on the DNR website to ensure the areas they plan to visit are open. All burn areas will have signs posted in advance.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Will Rubin
Communications Manager
Cell: 360-764-0854
[email protected]