News Release

Spring 2026 Prescribed Fire Burning Notice

Date: March 18, 2026
Contact: Tonya Neider, 360-485-5066

The National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S Wildland Fire Service, may implement the following prescribed fires at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area during the spring of 2026.

Ferry County:

• Napoleon North RX, 41acres north of Boyds, and north of Napoleon Road.

Stevens County:

• Rickey 3, 20 acres north of the Rickey Point Road.
• Rickey North, 9 acres south of the Rickey Point Road.

The goals of prescribed burns include promoting forest health and decreasing forest fuel loads adjacent to private property, infrastructure, and residences. 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 May. Ignition of each unit should be completed in one day. Public and firefighter safety are always the highest priority in all fire management activities. The project areas will be carefully monitored until the units are 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.

Additional information may be found on the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area website at www.nps.gov/laro.