All DNR-managed lands east of Cascades temporarily closed, effective July 23

ELLENSBURG—Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced that, due to extreme fire danger and ongoing drought, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources is temporarily closing all recreational and public access to DNR-managed land in eastern Washington starting July 23.

The temporary closure will apply to all DNR-managed state lands, conservation areas, community forests and any associated trailers, campgrounds, recreational sites and facilities.

“This summer is smashing all our records and leaving the state bone dry, leaving eastern Washington to face an ongoing, tremendous risk of wildfire,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the elected official who oversees DNR. “Over the past year and a half, we have been reminded just how important our public lands are, so closing them is not a decision we take lightly. But with the drought leaving the region as dry as ever we must do all that we can to prevent human-caused fires.

“Our firefighters are already stretched thin fighting major fires across our state. We must take reasonable steps – and make sacrifices – in order to protect them and our communities.”

A reopening date has not yet been determined.