BLM officials to conduct controlled burns
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SPOKANE, WASH. -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Spokane District Office, Border Field Office and Wenatchee Field Office fire management officials, will conduct several prescribed fires on federal land in the areas of Fishtrap, Chewelah, Orient, Curlew, Republic, Loomis, and Entiat between Oct. 4, and Dec. 20, 2023.
Prescribed fires, commonly referred to as controlled burns, are conducted by fire management specialists when appropriate weather conditions and fuel moisture levels are optimal. Fire management specialists use these controlled burns to improve forage for wildlife, increase plant diversity and effectively reduce hazardous fuels while enhancing forest health. The reduction of those hazardous fuels helps lessen the wildfire threat to public, firefighters and property.
Although smoke may be visible during these prescribed fires, fire management officials will monitor environmental conditions to reduce its impact to air quality. No closure orders will be issued for the prescribed fire areas, but to ensure public safety, the BLM recommends temporary avoidance of these public lands when fire is active, or smoke is visible.
Fire crews will remain on site to monitor burn conditions after operations have concluded.
For more information on prescribed fire, visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire/fuels-management.
For more information, contact Travis Edwards at 509-536-1297 or by e-mail at: tedwards@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.