Whitman Mission National Historic Site Prescribed Fire Plan
Trick R. 2004. Whitman Mission National Historic Site Prescribed Fire Plan. National Park Service. Walla Walla, Washington
The Whitman Mission National Historic Site Fire Management Plan was updated in January, 2004. Current fire management activities include fire suppression and the proposed application of prescribed fire. Management of natural ignitions for resource benefit is not feasible on the NHS because of the small size of the site and the number of sensitive resources. It would be difficult to contain a natural fire within the boundaries of the NHS. All unplanned ignitions, both lightning-caused and human-caused, are suppressed in the site to protect sensitive park resources, as well as to prevent damage to neighboring private lands. The park has the responsibility for fire suppression but carries it out through agreements with the local county fire district and the U.S. Forest Service. The prescribed burns will be conducted at the NHS on an annual basis at different areas of the park to maintain, to the extent possible, the role of fire in the ecosystem and to reduce the build-up of hazardous fuels. The result of the burns will promote the health and vigor of the grasses and reduce the spread of noxious weeds. The burns are conducted in the late winter or early spring. This timing allows the fire to consume previous years’ dead, dried grass stems and leaves, but not damage the grass plants' roots. The Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management and other qualified staff coordinate with the Umatilla National Forest and local fire departments to plan and implement all prescribed burns. Prescribed burning activities will last only a few days a year, and usually will last only one afternoon per year. Between 10 and 20 acres would be burned each year, and most areas of the park would be burned every 3 to 5 years. The park only burns on county "Burn Days" to facilitate smoke dispersal. There are no future management changes anticipated. However, if more land area within the park is planted with native grasses, fire will probably play a part in its maintenance.