Did you see smoke? Prescribed burns near Tenino went ‘as planned’ Wednesday
If South Sound residents saw smoke hanging in the air Wednesday, it may have blown in from a planned ecological burn.
The Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) conducted prescribed burns at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Tenino.
Mason McKinley, prescribed fire program manager for CNLM, told The Olympian Wednesday afternoon that both burns went “as planned.”
“I think we met our ecological objectives of restoring prairie habitat and habitat for some of the rare and protected species in Thurston County,” McKinley said.
The first burn spanned 7 acres and took place three miles north of Tenino at Wolf Haven. The second spanned 6 acres and took place two miles south of Tenino at Cavness Ranch, according to a release from CNLM announcing the plan.
The burns, according to the CNLM release, are meant to “control invasive shrubs and restore prairie habitat.” Controlled burns, it reads, “create safer conditions for wildfire suppression.”
“CNLM and its partners carry out prescribed burns for ecological restoration and habitat maintenance. Prairie, Gary oak and ponderosa pine habitats in the South Sound are highly fire dependent ecosystems that have adapted to frequent low intensity fires,” the release reads.
The burns were conducted by experienced firefighters, according to the release.
The expected wind direction during the first fire was southwest; during the second, the wind was expected to blow northwest. CNLM directed those wishing to report nuisance smoke during Wednesday’s burns to call 360-584-6418.
This story was originally published July 24, 2019 at 8:55 AM.
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