Firefighters using controlled burns to restore forest health, avoid disasters.

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST - The figures emerged from the smoke,wearing the standard-issue battle fatigues of U.S. Forest Servicefirefighters: bright yellow shirts and hard hats.

Normally, the group would be snuffing out the flames lickingacross dead needles, brush and dry leaves toward the trunks ofponderosa pines.

But this time, the Naches Ranger District's firefighters, flamingkerosene canisters in hand, were the firestarters.

As a 25-foot Douglas fir exploded like a Roman candle belowBethel Ridge, the group stopped and simply looked on. "That's atorch," said crew boss Amy Starkovich. "Don't worry. It'll be goodfor the forest." Think of it as fighting fire …

Firefighters using controlled burns to restore forest health, avoid disasters.

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST - The figures emerged from the smoke,wearing the standard-issue battle fatigues of U.S. Forest Servicefirefighters: bright yellow shirts and hard hats.

Normally, the group would be snuffing out the flames lickingacross dead needles, brush and dry leaves toward the trunks ofponderosa pines.

But this time, the Naches Ranger District's firefighters, flamingkerosene canisters in hand, were the firestarters.

As a 25-foot Douglas fir exploded like a Roman candle belowBethel Ridge, the group stopped and simply looked on. "That's atorch," said crew boss Amy Starkovich. "Don't worry. It'll be goodfor the forest." Think of it as fighting fire …

Firefighters using controlled burns to restore forest health, avoid disasters.

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST - The figures emerged from the smoke,wearing the standard-issue battle fatigues of U.S. Forest Servicefirefighters: bright yellow shirts and hard hats.

Normally, the group would be snuffing out the flames lickingacross dead needles, brush and dry leaves toward the trunks ofponderosa pines.

But this time, the Naches Ranger District's firefighters, flamingkerosene canisters in hand, were the firestarters.

As a 25-foot Douglas fir exploded like a Roman candle belowBethel Ridge, the group stopped and simply looked on. "That's atorch," said crew boss Amy Starkovich. "Don't worry. It'll be goodfor the forest." Think of it as fighting fire …

Firefighters using controlled burns to restore forest health, avoid disasters.

WENATCHEE NATIONAL FOREST - The figures emerged from the smoke,wearing the standard-issue battle fatigues of U.S. Forest Servicefirefighters: bright yellow shirts and hard hats.

Normally, the group would be snuffing out the flames lickingacross dead needles, brush and dry leaves toward the trunks ofponderosa pines.

But this time, the Naches Ranger District's firefighters, flamingkerosene canisters in hand, were the firestarters.

As a 25-foot Douglas fir exploded like a Roman candle belowBethel Ridge, the group stopped and simply looked on. "That's atorch," said crew boss Amy Starkovich. "Don't worry. It'll be goodfor the forest." Think of it as fighting fire …