WENATCHEE — Three ranger districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest announced that their fall burning programs will begin soon.

The Chelan Ranger District plans to focus on brush piles on about 800 acres in the Washington Creek, east fork of Joe Creek, Antoine Creek, Twenty-five Mile Creek and Forest Mountain areas. The burning will likely begin next week and continue for several weeks.

The Entiat Ranger District hopes to treat about 1,400 acres in Brennegan Creek/Preston Creek, Roaring Ridge/Moe Canyon, McKenzie Saddle/Lower Tyee and the Shady Pass areas.

Burning will likely begin before the end of this month and continue through mid-November.

Due to recent weather conditions, pile burning may be the only burning conducted.

The Methow Valley Ranger District plans to burn several hundred acres of piles over the next few weeks in Cub Creek, Fawn Creek, Eightmile Creek and McFarland Creek.

Prescribed burning is used to reduce forest fuels, improve habitat and diversity and reduce the severity of wildfires. Specialists evaluate the potential impacts to air quality each day before deciding whether burning can occur.

— K.C. Mehaffey, World staff