Lake Wenatchee Info

As cooler temperatures and increasing moisture decreases fire danger in
forest lands, the Wenatchee River Ranger District is getting ready to
implement its annual prescribed fall burning program. If weather
conditions are favorable, the prescribed burns may begin as early as the
first week of October and will continue through November.  The District
plans to burn approximately 1,500 acres this fall in various locations
from Lake Wenatchee to Mission Ridge.

The goals for these low intensity prescribed burns include:
·  Reduction of hazardous forest fuels.
·  Improve protection for adjacent lands within the community’s
wildland-urban interface.
·  Improve opportunities for firefighters to safely suppress future
wildfire.
·  Burns to maintain the natural cycles of the ecosystem (historic fire
intervals).

The prescribed burns are mainly in or adjacent to previous timber sale
units and will be either underburns or hand-pile burns.  Areas to be
treated include Beehive Reservoir (near Mission Ridge), Derby and
Williams Canyon, Blewett Pass/Camas, north of Tumwater Canyon along
Highway 2, and close to Fish Lake (Chiwawa Loop and Lake Wenatchee).
Some burns (for example the Beehive Reservoir, Chiwawa Loop and Tumwater
burns) will be highly visible.  Smoke is expected to last 2-5 days at
each burn, depending upon wind, fuel and other conditions.

Fire Management Officer, Michelle Ellis said, “Before any burning
occurs, careful planning and risk assessment occur.  This includes fire
behavior, weather data, fuel conditions, smoke analysis and contingency
plans.” Monitoring of weather and fuel moisture parameters will take
place prior to, during and after prescribed burning, to ensure
objectives for each burn are met.

Part of this year’s program includes maintenance burns.  These burns are
in areas that have been treated previously, but are now being retreated
over certain time intervals or what is termed “historic fire intervals”.
Ellis added, “When fire is used constructively, it is an important tool
both for forest health and reducing risk to communities. This course of
action follows what nature has normally done and creates a sustainable
healthy forest.”

If you have questions concerning the fall burning project, contact
Wenatchee River Ranger District’s Fire Management Office at (509)
548-6977.

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Susan C. Peterson
Public Affairs, Central Zone
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
Region 6 Corporate Recruiter
phone:  (509) 548-2558
email:    scpeterson@fs.fed.us