Prescribed burns west of Carlton could start Oct. 5

CARLTON — The Methow Valley Ranger District plans to start prescribed burning Monday, Oct. 5, in the Libby Creek drainage west of Carlton if conditions are favorable.

Crews will begin with the 347-acre Hornet Draw unit, about 2 miles west of Carlton, according to Brian Campbell, assistant fire management officer for fuels on the district. They then plan to burn the 900-acre Mission unit, also in the Libby Creek drainage about 5 miles west of Carlton.

The district will then consider the 220-acre Upper Rendezvous unit, about 10 miles north of Winthrop.

The three units are part of up to 3,315 acres the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has planned for treatment this fall in the Methow Valley Ranger District near Carlton, Twisp and Winthrop. The Forest Service has said burns go ahead only when weather and fuel conditions meet safety and air quality standards.

An online map of the burn units is at usfs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=06dfbdbfef9e4646912d88f99910de8a. Questions can go to the Methow Valley Ranger District at 509-996-4000.