Wildfire conditions cause closures to wildlife areas

Whitman County Gazette | Jul 29, 20210

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife count

The Revere Wildlife Area consists of Palouse grassland terrain about 9 miles from Lamont along Rock Creek. The area is popular for hunting, mostly mule deer, upland bird, and coyote. Some people fish the creek.

SPOKANE — Eastern Washington wildlife areas are closed to overnight use because of high wildfire danger.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced closures started on July 23.

The decision includes all wildlife areas in Eastern Washington.

Day use is still permitted.

The closure follows similar measures put in last week in north central Washington and the southeast part of the state. The temporary rules apply to motorized vehicle users and people on foot.

State land managers meet weekly to assess conditions for possible further closures.

An emergency order passed earlier this month remains in effect for areas east of the Cascades, banning campfires, target shooting, chainsaw operation, using a motor vehicle outside of developed roads, and more.

Violators are ticketed as the WDFW applies a zero-tolerance policy.

The WDFW is the steward of more than 700,000 acres of public land in Eastern Washington.