Updated 3:35 p.m. with DNR burn ban announcement.

WILD FIRES -- With last year's Carlton Complex fires still heavy in the memories of locals as well as visitors and anglers, fire officials say they’re concerned that big wildfires already are popping up this summer in North Central Washington.

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources today announced a burn ban will start Wednesday, June 17, on DNR-protected lands east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains.

• Update Jun 17: Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area has banned all fires outside of designated campfire grates in developed campgrounds.

All outdoor burning already had been banned in both Chelan and Douglas counties.

DNR's Eastern Washington burn ban applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under DNR fire protection.  It does not include federally owned lands such as national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges or other areas administered by federal agencies.

Over the weekend, North Central Washington firefighters battled a 1,060-acre fire in Douglas County near Wells Dam, a 600-acre fire east of Soap Lake, and a 6,700-acre fire near Coulee City, the Wenatchee World reports

All of the fires were contained by midday Monday, and causes were still being investigated.

"This is early for the big fires," said Grant County Fire District 7 Chief Kirk Sheppard. "We’re fighting fires now that we would normally see in August."

In 2015 so far, there have been 241 wildfire starts throughout the state.  Last year’s fire season was the biggest on record in Washington, with the largest state fire ever, the Carlton Complex, destroying more than 250,000 acres. More than 1 million acres of Washington’s landscape has been consumed by wildfire since 2009. 

A fire in west Spokane last week burned into the Palisades area, snuffing out trees and a trail bridge used by hikers and mountain bikers.

Campfire restrictions also are popping up.