By Zuri Anderson
Photo: Getty Images
It s the peak of summer but both residents and tourists in Eastern Washington won t be able to enjoy several outside areas for some time.
Starting Friday, July 23 at midnight, all Eastern Washington lands under the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be closed to the public, according to
Hillary Franz, the Washington Commissioner of Public Lands.
KOMO reports that officials shut down access due to the ongoing drought and extreme fire danger.
The closure will apply to all DNR-managed lands, conservation areas, community forests, any associated roads, trails, campgrounds, recreational sites, and recreational facilities.
Public lands in eastern Washington closing Friday due to wildfire danger
The Department of Natural Resources is closing all public lands in eastern Washington to public access due to high wildfire danger. Author: KING 5 Staff Updated: 2:22 PM PDT July 20, 2021
WENATCHEE, Wash. Due to the already record-breaking wildfire season fueled by extreme heat and historic drought across the Pacific Northwest, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is closing all public lands in eastern Washington on Friday.
The temporary closures are aimed at curbing the proliferation of wildfires in the state. They were announced Tuesday by Commissioner Hilary Franz during a visit to the Red Apple Fire in Wenatchee.
Jul 20, 2021
Photo: Getty Images
Today, while visiting the Red Apple Fire, Commissioner Franz announced that, due to extreme fire danger and ongoing drought, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is temporarily closing all recreational and public access to DNR-managed lands in eastern Washington beginning 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 23.
This temporary closure will apply to DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community forests and any associated roads, trails, campgrounds, recreational sites or recreational facilities.
The Red Apple Fire alone has burned over 12,000 acres. Across our state, over 900 fires have burned more than 140,000 acres.
“This summer is smashing all our records and leaving the state bone dry, leaving eastern Washington to face an ongoing, tremendous risk of wildfire,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “Over the past year and a half, we have been reminded just how important our
Eastern Washington land managed by the state Department of Natural Resources will be closed indefinitely to recreation beginning Friday.
Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said Tuesday the risk of fires and danger to the public were too great to keep trails, campgrounds and other recreation sites open.
Franz announced the closure during a tour of hills blackened by the Red Apple Fire near Wenatchee. It breaks my heart that we ve reached this point where we have to take drastic action, she said.
The Red Apple Fire was one of nine fires of at least 150 acres burning in Eastern Washington on Tuesday. The Red Apple, Lick Creek and Chuweah Creek fires all exceeded 10,000 acres.
Jul 20, 2021
Photo: Getty Images
Today, while visiting the Red Apple Fire, Commissioner Franz announced that, due to extreme fire danger and ongoing drought, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is temporarily closing all recreational and public access to DNR-managed lands in eastern Washington beginning 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 23.
This temporary closure will apply to DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community forests and any associated roads, trails, campgrounds, recreational sites or recreational facilities.
The Red Apple Fire alone has burned over 12,000 acres. Across our state, over 900 fires have burned more than 140,000 acres.
“This summer is smashing all our records and leaving the state bone dry, leaving eastern Washington to face an ongoing, tremendous risk of wildfire,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “Over the past year and a half, we have been reminded just how important our