Northeast Washington Forest Coalition

09/29/2026

****UPDATE: Prescribed Fire Activity for the week of 5 October 2026****
The Colville National Forest is moving forward with prescribed fire activity as weather and resources allow this week:

Tonasket Ranger District
Project Name: North Hull Unit 8 and 13
Project Area: North side of Mt. Hull, East of Oroville WA.
Project Size: 152 and 121 acres, respectively

Republic Ranger District
Project Name: Walker 50, 53,55, 59
Project Area: Bracken Creek Road, East of Republic WA.
Project Size: 368 acres

Three Rivers Ranger District
Project Name: Coyote Unit 1
Project Area: East of Sherman Pass, north of Hwy 20
Project Size: 215 acres

All planned, current, and past prescribed fire activity in Washington and Oregon is available on this mapping layer:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/55ce8bfdea4345b6a06ae81d67e7d411?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAcGRvZgFicmlkETE3NERXNnhucE9MbEhaOTJDc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo-8JkNRVEd3DvCYBqDPCSpsNdylIoQYeWFO2JkORUoIXm-plPfh4rl0lYcJ_aem_2Gk44EHxQhdIFxxU-plMKA

Please Note: Areas of prescribed fire activity will likely have at least light smoke in the air, and can settle over roads and trails impacting visibility. Slow down when traveling through these project areas. Heavy equipment will likely be in the area.
As always, please reach out to your local district office with questions and concerns:
Tonasket (Tonasket Ranger District) 509-486-2186
Republic (Republic Ranger District) 509-775-7400
Kettle Falls (Three Rivers Ranger District) 509-738-7700

08/11/2026

Check out the trailer for a new film made by one of our stakeholders, Vaagen Bros. Lumber, Inc. premiering this Friday!

Great to see NEWFC representation and even some words from our former vice president and fellow board member, Mike Petersen. We love our forests! 🌲

08/04/2026

Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Fire Relief

Spokane Donation Drop at the Hillyard Laundry Building this Sunday 8/9/26 from 8am-5pm
3108 E Olympic Ave. Spokane, WA 99217

Amazon shopping list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1LQ8YI48RQLV6?ref_=wl_share

Most Needed Items:
Bottled Water/Gatorade
Gas Cards
Non-perishable food & snacks
T-shirts/Underwear/Socks
Blankets/sheets/pillows
Toilet paper/wipes/baby wipes
Spray bottles

***Hay and animal feed are needed if anyone has resources, please reach out!

Our hearts are with everyone affected by the Spokane Complex wildfires this weekend, especially those who have lost homes, been forced to evacuate, or are facing an uncertain road ahead. We are deeply grateful to the firefighters and emergency personnel who have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property, and to the entire Spokane community for its quick coordination of relief efforts and outpouring of generosity.

Although we live in a region ecologically adapted to fire, new stressors, including climate change, drought, and forest management practices, are making wildfires hotter, larger, and more frequent. As we witness the many large fires burning across eastern Washington right now, we see the vital need for healthy, resilient forests and communities, and will continue to work to protect this region we all love.

Recovering from these fires will take time, but together we can support our neighbors today while working toward a more resilient future.

How can you currently help?

Stay out of Level 3 Evacuation zones. Entering puts you in danger and interferes with emergency crews’ work.

Donate Funds:
Innovia Foundation: https://innovia.org/wildfire-response/
HOME Starts Here: https://my.spokanecity.org/endinghomelessness/donations/
World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/news/spokane-wa-wildfires/

Donate Items:
Asian Community Center - clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food - 205 N University Rd. Ste. 5 Spokane Valley
Global Neighborhood Thrift - donation bin for clothing. Clothing vouchers available for fire victims - 919 E Trent Ave, Spokane
Spokanimal - pet food, blankets, towels - 710 N Napa St, Spokane
Second Harvest - non-perishable food donations - 1234 E Front Ave, Spokane
Items to be taken to fire victims on the Colville Reservation:
Hillyard Laundry Building - 3108 E Olympic Ave, Spokane - Sun. Aug. 9, 8 AM - 5 PM
Most Needed Items:
Bottled water/Gatorade
Gas Cards
Non-perishable food & snacks
T-shirts/Underwear/Socks
Blankets/sheets/pillows
Toilet paper/wipes/baby wipes
Spray bottles

We will be sharing more information and resources in the coming days. Stay safe!

07/29/2026

Campfire Ban at Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge Beginning July 31!
Please see below press release.

05/18/2026

When it comes to wildfires, many of us often don’t think about the hard work, challenges, and collaboration that occur after a fire is done: things like forest recovery, timber salvage, long-term planning, etc.

Last week, NEWFC members and representatives from other local organizations met with U.S. Forest Service - Colville National Forest staff to learn more about the long-term management planning and updates pertaining to the 2025 Tacoma Creek Fire.

Walking around and seeing the landscape starting to bounce back was truly incredible: Tree seeds were already germinating in the areas that hadn’t burned as hot, and of course there were those magical burn morels that made the lunch break even more entertaining!

(Photos courtesy Jillian Garrett)

04/08/2026

Spring is here! 🌸☀️
Our NEWFC Spring Newsletter has arrived, and we’re excited to get back out on the landscape. What are your plans this season? 🌲🐝

03/25/2026

NEWFC is excited to be reoffering the Maurice Williamson Memorial Forestry Scholarship again for 2026! We look forward to continuing to share Maurice's love of the forest with aspiring forestry students. 🌲
Please reach out to [email protected] or call 208-920-0960 with any questions.

02/16/2026

Heads up: The U.S. Forest Service - Colville National Forest has some jobs opening up beginning Feb 20th. See their post for details and consider applying!

**HIRING SOON - Positions open February 20**

Looking for a meaningful job in your own community? The Colville National Forest is hiring seasonal employees for the summer!

These roles offer:
🌲 Outdoor, hands-on work
🌲 Experience in natural resources
🌲 A chance to support national forests near you

Local residents are strongly encouraged to apply. Job announcements will be posted to USAJOBS as early as February 20, 2026. Positions are being recruited with duty stations across the forest. For more information, visit our website https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/colville/working-with-us/careers

To get started with the application process, it’s recommended that applicants establish accounts and prepare their federal resume in advance.
🔗 USAJOBS: https://www.usajobs.gov/
🔗 How to Create an Account: https://help.usajobs.gov/get-started

12/16/2025

Batten down the hatches and prepare for high winds later today through Wednesday!

Heads up, Eastern Washington! A significant wind event is forecasted starting late tomorrow (Tuesday) night and lasting through Wednesday afternoon.

We expect strong west-southwest winds with sustained speeds of 25-45 mph and damaging gusts capable of reaching 50-70 mph. This will make travel difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles on major routes like I-90, I-82, US-395, and US-195.

Please take a few minutes today or tomorrow morning to secure loose outdoor items like trash cans, patio furniture, and holiday decorations. Tree damage and power outages are also possible with wind speeds this high.

Stay safe out there, and check road conditions before you head out!

If you want to know the forecast in your area, just go to www.weather.gov/spokane and enter your city and state.

11/26/2025

Here is the perfect post-Thanksgiving activity for the whole family!
NEW for 2025: permits are no longer required to harvest your Christmas tree (though please see the post below for some general guidelines to ensure a safe and fun Christmas tree harvesting experience):