Prescribed fires planned on WDFW-managed lands in Eastern Washington

EPHRATA–The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) plans to conduct prescribed fires on WDFW-managed lands in March as conditions become favorable in Eastern Washington. 

Prescribed fires reduce the risk and severity of future wildfires and improve habitat for wildlife. On WDFW-managed wildlife areas, there is special emphasis on improving ecosystems that support fish and wildlife while improving recreational opportunities. 

WDFW is planning to treat up to 250 acres with prescribed fire on the Sagebrush Flat Unit of the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area – about 10 miles northwest of Ephrata in Douglas County – by the end of the 2025 spring season. The Sagebrush Flat Unit is dominated by mature sagebrush and helps manage and promote the recovery of numerous shrubsteppe species, including pygmy rabbit and sage grouse. 

WDFW conducts prescribed fires during conditions that favor low-intensity burning, such as in the spring and fall, and are carefully planned and conducted under specific conditions of temperature, wind, and humidity. This makes burning safer while improving wildlife habitat and improving ecosystem health while reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. 

The Sagebrush Flat prescribed burns are meant to mimic the natural fire cycle in shrubsteppe, returning low- to moderate-intensity fire to this fire-prone ecosystem.  

“Fire rejuvenates important native grass and brush favored by deer and elk, as well as small mammals and bird species, while providing improved ecosystem health and resiliency, reduced wildfire intensity, and improved access for recreational users,” said Matt Eberlein, prescribed fire program manager with WDFW.  

Prescribed fires are monitored continuously until out, and crews work to minimize smoke impacts. Eberlein noted that the smoke from prescribed fire is usually lower in volume and shorter in duration than smoke from a wildfire, but land managers understand that these fires can be inconvenient for those who live near and recreate on public lands, particularly during hunting seasons. Signs are posted in advance of all prescribed fires to inform local users of planned burns. 

All burns are weather-dependent and will not occur if conditions are not optimal for safe and effective prescribed fires. Additional burns on WDFW-managed Eastern Washington lands may be announced later this spring.  

WDFW manages more than a million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural ecosystems, protecting the state’s land and water for its wildlife and people.