Controlled burn planned this weekend on Protection Island

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A controlled burn is planned on Protection Island Saturday, the Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge has announced.

The burn is planned for 25 acres on the island and is part of prairie restoration efforts on the refuge. It will be conducted by personnel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Federal officials said the fire is needed to remove non-native vegetation from the site to prepare for restoration of native coastal prairie habitat, and the Saturday start is tentatively scheduled. If the burn is not done this weekend, it will be rescheduled for any time through July when weather and fuel conditions allow for safe and successful project implementation. 

Officials will also use the burn to evaluate prescriptive parameters that will be needed to successfully utilize fire as a resource management tool. 

People in the area my see smoke for a short time, but officials noted that "minimal smoke is anticipated" due to the small size of the burn.