All photos © Scott Butner. See more of his work on Facebook

Fuel from multiple handheld drip torches ignited invasive grasses and fire spread quickly across a former farm field Wednesday, as fire professionals from many agencies worked together to conduct a controlled burn at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge in Burbank, near the Tri-Cities in south-central Washington Oct. 9

The exercise was part of the Cascadia Fall 2019 TREX, or Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, held Sept. 29-Oct. 11. In these exchanges, fire managers from multiple agencies come together to practice implementing controlled burns to restore forests and grasslands and to reduce brush and shrubs that could fuel bigger wildfires.

72282049_10156903747759195_6374970591098699776_o (1).jpg

The burn at McNary National Wildlife Refuge was designed as part of work at the refuge to restore the field to a more natural state so it can provide places for waterfowl such as ducks and geese to roost, nest and travel between the shoreline and uplands. The field is on one of the many sloughs that spread across the refuge.

The local fire district, Walla Walla County Fire District 5, joined the exercise and participated with fire professionals from the Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuges Complex, The Nature Conservancy, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), US Forest Service – Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, British Columbia Wildfire Service, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, Yakama Nation, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Southern Pueblos Agency, Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One, R&R Contracting, Mount Adams Resource Stewards, Kittitas County Fire District 1, Roslyn Fire Department, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and Ecological Fire Solutions.

Local newspapers came out to cover the exercise. Read their stories here:

Tri-City Herald: Targeting invasive weeds in Burbank

Walla Walla Union-Bulletin: Fire provides weed management

Featured

fire, Congress, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Forest Service, prescribed fire

Congress and Forest Service Lead on Wildfire Strategy

fire, Congress, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Forest Service, prescribed fire

A new 10-year Wildfire Strategy outlines the need to significantly increase fuels and forest health treatments to address the growing risk of wildfire that threatens lands and communities across the West.

fire, Congress, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, Forest Service, prescribed fire

thinning, forests, lands, Central Cascades, Central Cascades Forest, fire

Creative Forest Thinning Reduces Fire Risk and Fosters Healthy Forests

thinning, forests, lands, Central Cascades, Central Cascades Forest, fire

The Nature Conservancy is working on a new and creative forest restoration project on Cle Elum Ridge, called the “How Go Unit,” within the Central Cascades Forest. This “selective thinning” project will reduce fire risk, create healthy forests and support recreational access and natural habitat.

thinning, forests, lands, Central Cascades, Central Cascades Forest, fire

prescribed fire, fire, fire management, DNR, TREX, Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, Roslyn, Cle Elum, forest health

Prescribed Fire Season Kicks Off in Eastern Washington

prescribed fire, fire, fire management, DNR, TREX, Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, Roslyn, Cle Elum, forest health

the 2021 Cascadia Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX), which is designed to increase shared stewardship and learning across agencies and local landowners, kicks off soon in Kittitas County.

prescribed fire, fire, fire management, DNR, TREX, Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, Roslyn, Cle Elum, forest health

Central Cascades, fire

TNC Lands Reopened in Eastern Washington

Central Cascades, fire

TNC lands in Eastern Washington are now reopened for normal recreation and public access. These lands initially closed on July 23 due to extreme fire danger.

Central Cascades, fire

government, government relations, advocacy, fire, forest health

Thank You For Supporting Fire Funding

government, government relations, advocacy, fire, forest health

The Washington state Legislature has passed HB 1168, legislation that will give state agencies and local communities a fighting chance to get ahead of the growing threat of wildfire to communities across the state.

government, government relations, advocacy, fire, forest health

policy, fire, climate change

Make Your Voice Heard for Nature

policy, fire, climate change

With a virtual legislative session, it’s easier than ever to speak up for nature - and it’s FAST!

policy, fire, climate change

fire, media, legislature

We've Garnered A Lot of Attention for Fire Funding

fire, media, legislature

Here is a highlight of our most recent media successes related to fire funding and House Bill 1168, featuring a few of our own Nature Conservancy staff members!

fire, media, legislature

legislature, advocacy, policy, climate justice, climate change, budget, capital budget, shrubsteppe, fire, environmental justice, environmental health, environmental priorities coalition

Legislative Halftime Report

legislature, advocacy, policy, climate justice, climate change, budget, capital budget, shrubsteppe, fire, environmental justice, environmental health, environmental priorities coalition

Our spirits are high as we pass the halfway point in the 105-day Washington state legislative session. Many top priority policies have made it past the first major policy deadline, known as “House of Origin cutoff,” when bills introduced in the House must be approved by a House floor vote, and likewise in the Senate.

legislature, advocacy, policy, climate justice, climate change, budget, capital budget, shrubsteppe, fire, environmental justice, environmental health, environmental priorities coalition

advocacy, fire, prescribed fire, wildfire, HB 1168

Make Your Voice Heard: Tell Lawmakers to Support Designated Fire Funding

advocacy, fire, prescribed fire, wildfire, HB 1168

You can support current efforts in the Washington Legislature to create a designated fire funding source to directly support forest-health treatments, help communities become fire-prepared and increase funding for firefighting equipment and personnel to help fight the large, destructive fires we’ve seen in recent years.

advocacy, fire, prescribed fire, wildfire, HB 1168

fire, prescribed fire, fire adapted communities

We Support Designated Fire Funding—Here's How You Can Help

fire, prescribed fire, fire adapted communities

we support current efforts in the Washington Legislature to create a designated fire funding source to directly support forest-health treatments and help communities become fire-prepared.

fire, prescribed fire, fire adapted communities

Bringing good fire onto McNary National Wildlife Refuge with Cascadia TREX

FOLLOW US

GET UPDATES

INSTAGRAMS

TWEETS