Submitted by Washignton State Department of Natural Resources
A prescribed fire operation to reduce wildfire risk and support ecosystem health near Friday Harbor may begin as soon as Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is planning a prescribed fire operation this fall on up to four acres of grassland prairie at the Cattle Point Natural Resources Conservation Area about five miles southeast of Friday Harbor. Click here to view the location on a map.
Staff are preparing to begin operations as soon as Wednesday, Sept. 4. DNR is committed to conducting all prescribed fires as safely and effectively as possible, which may require postponing a burn on short notice. Members of the public can stay up to date on DNR prescribed fire information by visiting dnr.wa.gov/prescribedfire, following @wadnr_forests on Twitter, and by signing up for email alerts about upcoming burns.
Prescribed fires are a common tool used by land managers and conservation groups to reduce the amount of fuel available for wildfires, bolster the health of native prairie grasslands, support new and current wildlife habitats, and recycle soil nutrients back into the ground.
Successful completion of a prescribed fire operation enhances public safety by providing wildland firefighters a safer landscape on which to fight a wildfire. It can also lessen the amount of smoke caused by wildfires by reducing available fuels.
Smoke Management and Closure Information
The smoke impacts from prescribed fire are minimal and short-lived compared to those caused by wildfire. Burn crews carefully monitor conditions to limit the effects of smoke on nearby residents.
Persons and businesses with increased sensitivity to smoke should be prepared to follow the same precautions they would for wildfire smoke. These include limiting physical activity outdoors, closing the fresh-air intake on air circulation systems, and creating a box fan filter. Additional information is available at the Washington State Department of Health website.
Drivers on Cattle Point Road can expect reduced visibility when near the prescribed fire. It is possible that smoke and other factors will cause delays during active operations.
The Cattle Point day-use area will be closed during the burn. Visitors to the area are encouraged to check closure information frequently to ensure the areas they plan to visit are open. All burn areas will have signs posted in advance.
About the Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Administered by Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, DNR manages more than 5.6 million acres of state-owned forest, range, commercial, agricultural, conservation, and aquatic lands. Of these, more than half are held in trust to produce income to support public schools and other essential services. State trust lands managed by DNR provide other public benefits, including outdoor recreation, habitat for native fish and wildlife, and watersheds for clean water.
