SPOKANE, Wash. — A wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon in Riverside State Park has burned 40 acres and damaged one structure.
The Aubrey White Fire forced the evacuation of the Bowl and Pitcher area, including dozens of campers.
The fire burned along the Centennial Trail across the Spokane River from the Bowl and Pitcher area.
Fire crews from the Department of Natural Resources worked Monday to address hot spots and conducted burnouts to prevent flare-ups.
“We decide to do that on our terms when the weather is in our favor, to remove that fuel instead of it happening later in the day when the winds are picked up and it’s hotter,” said Guy Gifford of the Department of Natural Resources. “So right now the crews are doing what we call burning out.”
Crews worked strategically to ensure complete burning of vulnerable areas.
“They’re lighting a small strip right next to the fire trail, and then bigger areas behind it to make sure it’s all burnt out before it gets hotter,” Gifford said.
The burnouts target areas where unburned fuel remains between the fire and fire trails.
“When we have unburned fuel between the fire and the fire trail, we want that to be black because black can’t burn again,” Gifford explained.
Despite the fire’s relatively small size, officials say it’s a wake-up call to fire season.
“The potential is there. That’s what yesterday told us. Large fires can easily start now,” Gifford said.
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