State officials are already preparing for the upcoming fire season. On Wednesday the Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is set to visit Wildland Fire and Forest Health orientation and training in Ellensburg. The Department of Natural Resources is training 30 new wildland firefighters and forest health specialists learning about fire and forest safety procedures, working with the Wildfire and Forest Health Plans and receiving updates on local community risks and forest information. The new firefighters were recently hired by the state as part of the Legislature’s 2019 investment to support the Department of Natural Resources’ forest health and wildland fire prevention strategic plans.