South Puget Sound Ecological Fire Program 2011 Summary Report

After working through regulatory and administrative issues and developing an infrastructure of trained firefighters and equipment, 2011 marks our fourth scaled-up burn season.  Prior to 2008, we were only conducting one to three burns annually.  Since that time, the partnership has increased its burning significantly.  In 2011, we completed 47 burns totaling 1462 acres on 8 different ownerships in North and South Puget Sound.  In addition, we assisted on east Cascade burns for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at Sinlahekin and TNC’s Zumwalt preserve.  At these sites, we helped to burn 324 acres on three units.  In spite of unplanned set-backs during the burn season which reduced our ability to burn, this level of effort makes us one of the most active burn programs in the stat.  Primary ecological burn partners include Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources, Wolf Haven, The Nature Conservancy as well as Whidbey Camano Land Trust in North Puget Sound.