Prescribed fire at Turnbull Wildlife Refuge

This spring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge may conduct prescribed burns.

Depending on weather conditions, burning could occur sometime between March and mid-May. Prescribed burning activities should have little to no impact on access to the majority of Refuge public use areas.

These burns will accomplish Refuge management objectives for; improving wildlife habitat, reducing potential wildfire fuels by decreasing hazardous accumulations of vegetation and forest debris, and decreasing the number of unhealthy and overstocked stands of ponderosa pine seedlings and saplings.

Burning will only occur when weather conditions are favorable and on days when the smoke will disperse and mix with the predominate air flow. These burns will be implemented in accordance with the State of Washington’s Smoke Management Plan. Disruptions to traffic are possible due to smoke, but are expected to be minimal. To ensure public safety, signs will be placed along adjacent public roads and staff will monitor smoke conditions.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.