News Release

Fall 2026 Prescribed Fire Burning Notice

NPS Image A wildland firefighter conducts a prescribed handline ignition during a fire management operation, using a drip torch to establish a controlled fire along the prepared line. Additional firefighters and equipment are visible in the background.

News Release Date: October 6, 2026

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the Wildland Fire Service, may implement prescribed underburns and pile burns in the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area this fall.

Safe and favorable weather conditions are expected from early October through December. Ignition of each area should be completed in one day, and fire management staff will carefully monitor the project areas until they are fully extinguished. Residual smoke may be visible for up to two weeks after ignition.

Public and firefighter safety remain the highest priority. The planned burns by county include:

Stevens County
  • Rickey 3: 20 acres north of Rickey Point Road.
  • Rickey North: Nine acres south of Rickey Point Road.
  • Evans: One large pile north of the Evans Boat Launch.
  • Kettle Falls: One large pile south of the Boise Cascade timber and wood facility on South Boise Road.
  • Gifford: One large pile east of the Gifford Boat Launch.
Lincoln County
  • Fort Spokane: One large pile northeast of Fort Spokane near the intersection of Miles Road and Cougi Lane.
  • Keller Ferry: One large pile southwest of the Keller Ferry Marina.
  • Spring Canyon: One large pile off Spring Canyon Campground Road.
These prescribed burns are part of Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s ongoing fire management program. They will promote forest health, reduce wildfire fuels near homes and infrastructure, and improve plant diversity. The burns will also return nutrients to the soil and help maintain forests that are more resilient to fire, insects and disease.

Fire managers carefully plan prescribed burns and conduct them under specific weather and fuel conditions. Wildland fire management activities conducted by the National Park Service are guided by agency management policies and federal wildland fire guidelines.

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Last updated: October 6, 2026

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Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
1008 Crest Drive

Coulee Dam, WA 99116

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509-754-7800
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