Prescribed Burning Operations Planned for Over 9,500 acres of Forest Across Central Washington

Firefighters will begin prescribed burning operations, also known as 'good fire', throughout the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest this spring with the goal of treating more than 9,500 acres.

Public Affairs Officer Robin DeMario said not only does good fire remove volatile fuels, it also makes the forest easier to defend against wildfire and helps protect public lands and local communities that are adjacent to the forest.

"There are criteria for us to meet before we can ignite those fuels. Weather, wind conditions, smoke ventilation, things like that," explained DeMario.

Residents in the region can expect to see and smell smoke during burning operations, although it should be light and not last long. Real-time prescribed fire maps and updates can be found here.

Planned prescribed burning operations this spring are as follows:

Okanogan County:
· Goat, 839 acres 2 miles east of Mazama, WA
· Lost Driveway, 419 acres adjacent to Mazama and 7 miles northwest of Mazama, WA
· Lucky, 56 acres 6 miles northwest of Winthrop, WA
· Sherwood, 365 acres 10 miles northwest of Winthrop, WA
· Deer, 363 acres 10 miles northwest of Winthrop, WA
· Ortell, 302 acres 10 miles northwest of Winthrop, WA
· Benzer, 66 acres 11 miles southeast of Twisp, WA

Chelan County:
· 25 Mile Creek, 382 acres 18 miles northwest of Chelan, WA
· Forest Mountain, 173 acres 11 miles west of Chelan, WA
· Forest Johnson, 1,254 acres 3 miles northeast of Ardenvoir, WA
· Switchback Canyon, 110 acres 3 miles north of Ardenvoir, WA
· Dill Creek, 34 acres 9 miles north of Ardenvoir, WA
· Crum, 83 acres, three miles northwest of Entiat, WA
· Moe/Roaring Ridge, 128 acres, one mile southwest of Ardenvoir, WA
· Tillicum, 401 acres, 5 miles west of Ardenvoir, WA
· Fishpole/Natapoc, 550 acres, one mile southwest of Fish Lake, WA
· Upper Peshastin, 650 acres at the summit of Blewett Pass off of Hwy 97
· Mission, 900 acres, 4 miles west of Wenatchee, WA

Kittitas County:
· Liberty, 100 acres 17 miles northeast of Cle Elum, WA
· Orion, 300 acres 15 miles northeast of Cle Elum, WA
· Teanaway, 300 acres 13 miles north of Cle Elum, WA

Yakima County:
· Dry Ridge, 600 acres 25 miles northwest of Yakima, WA near Nile-Cliffdell Hwy 410
· Canteen, 1200 acres 20 miles northwest of Yakima, WA near Cleman Mountain and Hwy 410