Some days in the summer,  you will see a plume of smoke in the distance. If that distance happens to take you to the range lands of Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), then it is more likely to be a controlled burn. Historically, the local Indians burned the prairies here. The lovely camas flowers on our banner are a result of last year’s controlled burn. Of course, the Scotch broom gets the bad end of this deal. It’s a newcomer to our ecosystem and due to its unrelenting progress into our prairies, deserves its fate in the fire. Next year, there will be lovely native flowers in its place.

JBLM just resumed these burns last summer after a several years without them. After a day of facing numerous calls places to the fire department, they posted a sign along the road telling people it was a controlled burn. So don’t reach for your cell phone too fast.