Controlled burns planned in Eastern Washington to help prevent future wildfires

EASTERN WASHINGTON — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is planning controlled burns starting in March for six wildlife areas in Eastern Washington to help prevent future wildfires.

“It’s not a question of whether we’ll have wildfires on these lands, but rather the degree to which we can reduce the damage they do,” said WDFW Prescribed Fire Manager Matt Eberlein.

The burns reduce the excess vegetation that can cause the fires.

In addition to reducing future fire risk, the planned burns also reduce risks to community safety and health and improve habitats for deer, elk and bighorn sheep.

The burns will be funded with money from the state's Capital Budget and other grant funds.

Weather permitting, the following areas will have controlled burns in the following month:

• Sherman Creek Wildlife Area, 524 acres in Ferry County, 10 mile west of Kettle Falls
• Rustlers Gulch Wildlife Area, 523 acres in Pend Oreille County, 15 miles southwest of Newport
• Methow Wildlife Area, 248 acres in Okanogan County, 10 miles northeast of Winthrop
• Colockum Wildlife Area, 500 acres in Chelan County, 10 miles southeast of Wenatchee
• Oak Creek Wildlife Area, 120 acres in Yakima County, 15 miles west of Naches
• Grouse Flats Wildlife Area, 400 acres in Asotin County, 40 miles southwest of Clarkston

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