The smoke you see in Olympic National Forest may be from a fire that was intentionally set.
Prescribed fires in Clallam, Mason and Grays Harbor counties may begin as early as this week and could continue through November, said Donna Nemeth, Forest Service spokeswoman.
This year’s planned ignitions are pile burns designed to reduce hazardous fuels, she said.
Four locations are proposed in the Hood Canal Ranger District.
Both the Cougar Weather Station and the Maynard Repeater site are located northwest of Mount Zion in Clallam County.
The South Fork of the Skokomish River at the Dennie Ahl Seed Orchard and on Forest Service Road 2350, one-half mile from the junction with Forest Service Road 23, are in Mason County.
One site is proposed in the Pacific Ranger District.
The Boulder Gravel Pit, located just off U.S. Highway 101, a short distance south of the turnoff to Lake Quinault on Forest Service Road 2273, is in Grays Harbor County.
Residents and visitors may see or smell smoke, and glowing embers may be visible at night.
Smoke may settle into lower-elevation areas, particularly at night and in the early morning hours.
The fires will be monitored closely by qualified personnel, Nemeth said, and local authorities will be notified prior to ignition and kept informed throughout the burn.
Prescribed fires are planned ignitions designed with specific objectives in mind.
The fires are started only when environmental conditions such as wind, fuel moisture levels and relative humidity are favorable, Nemeth said.
