VAN ZANDT, WA. – You may soon encounter smokey skies if you are heading through rural Whatcom County.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources will be conducting a prescribed burn on 35 acres of state land about six miles east of Van Zandt.

Burning could start as soon as Friday, October 6th.

Smoke will likely be seen from parts of Mosquito Lake Rd, and visibility could be reduced on parts of Middle Fork Road.

DNR restarted its prescribed burns program last year.

This burn will be the first on state lands in western Washington since the program restarted.

DNR says that the burn is being done to clear wood debris from a recent timber sale.

The goal of the prescribed burn is to prevent wildfires and invasive insects from occupying the area.