Wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington covered much of the western United States with smoke this summer, limiting outdoor activities and posing health risks to residents. In order to stop this from happening again, controlled burns will be used in the Yakima area to clear some of the growth from areas that are prone to burning.
Holly Krake, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, said that while the practice of controlled burns may seem counterintuitive, it is a partial answer to the problem of wildfires in eastern Washington, which are becoming more frequent and intense. Once the undergrowth is burned away, if a fire does start, there will be less fuel available for it to consume, and firefighters will be able to get to the site more easily.
Controlled burns will take place on over 900 acres of both private and public land in several central Washington areas. Firefighters from federal, state, and local agencies will control the burns, with the help of some colleagues from Canada. Burning will take place on 500 acres near Cle Elum; on 250 acres in Yakima County and Kittitas County; in the Central Cascades Forest; and near Roslyn.
The burns will take place between September 24 and October 5. Events like this can be alarming, so officials might use flyer printing to create a mailer for residents in the affected areas.
