A prescribed burn on Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife land, between Pearrygin Lake State Park and the Upper Bear Creek campground, will continue through the end of this week. The camping site, officially known as the Methow Wildlife Area Bear Creek No. 1 Campground, remains closed until the burn is completed.
Smoke was visible over the ridgetops east of Winthrop, Wednesday through Sunday (May 29–June 2). A Fish and Wildlife crew ceased active burning on Monday (June 3) and mopped up the controlled fire, which by then had burned 100 acres, said Staci Lehman, the department’s eastern Washington communications manager.
The crew planned to burn an additional 80 acres this week. The prescribed burn is intended to reduce a thick layer of underbrush, Lehman said.
“Hopefully, if a bigger fire comes through the area, this will help manage it,” she said.
