YAKIMA, Wash. -- If you saw smoke billowing from the south side of Ahtanum Ridge on Wednesday morning, don’t worry, it was a controlled burn intended to reduce the danger of wildland fires.

Fire crews with the Bureau of Indian Affairs were burning dry grass and other fuels from the base to the top of the ridge.

The blackened hillside can be seen from Interstate 82.

Crews often burn such dry fuels to reduce the chance of a wildland fire later. There are radio and television towers, access roads and abutting orchards in the area.