Don’t panic if you see smoke blowing over JBLM on Wednesday. Here’s what’s happening

If you see or smell smoke around the Tacoma area on Wednesday, it’s likely due to work being done at Joint Base Lewis-McChord to prevent wildfires. Prescribed burns are being carried out throughout the day.

Every summer, JBLM conducts prescribed burning to some of its nearly 90,000 acres that cover about 142 square miles.

Here’s what to know about the prescribed burn and how long it’ll last.

JBLM prescribed burn schedule

The Aug. 14 prescribed burn is meant to begin at 10 a.m. and last until 4 p.m., but that’s somewhat subject to weather and other conditions.

Wednesday, Aug. 14:

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Training Area 4
• 3.5 miles south of Exit 119
• 6.5 miles west of the intersection of Hwy 507 and East Gate Road

Why is JBLM setting fires?

Prescribed burns are a standard preventative method used in Washington state to prevent larger-scale destruction in the case of a natural or man-made fire.

In a press release, the JBLM public affairs office noted there are “many reasons JBLM has prescribed burns, mostly to remove potential fuel sources and improve training lands.”

You can find more information about the Army’s approach to prescribed burns online.