News Release

Spring 2023 Prescribed Fire Burning Notice

Prescribed burn area. Blue outline indicates prescribed burn area, while red line indicates the park boundary.

NPS

News Release Date: April 4, 2023

Contact: Tonya Neider, 360-485-5066

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area may implement the following prescribed fire during the spring of 2023. Stevens County:

• Gifford, 67 acres adjacent to the Gifford Campground and Boat Launch.

The goals of prescribed burns include promoting forest health and decreasing forest fuel loads adjacent to campgrounds, residences and structures. Benefits will include:

• Increased understory plant diversity and natural reseeding of trees,

• Retaining a healthy mosaic of plants and trees that are more resistant and resilient to fire, insects and disease’

• Reduced small fuels, which are primary fire carriers,

• Decreased risk and intensity of uncontrolled wildfires,

• Increased nutrients for trees and understory.

Safe and favorable weather conditions may occur in April through the beginning of June.  Ignitions should be completed in one or two days. Public and firefighter safety are always the highest priority in all fire management activities. The project area will be carefully monitored until the unit is fully extinguished. Residual smoke may be observed for up to two weeks post ignition.

Wildland fire management activities conducted by the National Park Service (NPS) are guided by NPS management policies and the Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, 2009. The Gifford Prescribed Fire will be ignited in conjunction with the WA DNR.

Additional information may be found on the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area website at www.nps.gov/laro or under current conditions and closures in the park.