San Juan Island is well known for its splendid vistas, saltwater shores, quiet woodlands, orca whales and one of the last remaining native prairies in the Puget Sound/Northern Straits region. But it was also here in 1859 that the United States and Great Britain nearly went to war over possession of the island, the crisis ignited by the death of a pig.
San Juan Island National Historical Park will begin controlled pile burning and hazardous fuels removal the week of April 6 in two areas of the park to reduce wildfire risk. Operations will be led by Olympic Interagency Fire Management personnel.