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  INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: The National Park Service is planning 8 prescribed fires this spring at Indiana Dunes National Park. Approximately 944 acres are expected to be burned. Fire is used as a tool for the park's long-term restoration and hazard fuel reduction efforts.

Clear management goals and objectives have been established for each burn unit. Before burning, a designated set of conditions must exist including ideal wind speed and direction, and relative humidity. Weather conditions will be monitored throughout the duration of the burn to ensure the fire is completed safely.

Fire Management Officer MaryEllen Whitenack says, “The prescribed fire program here at Indiana Dunes National Park is a combined effort between the Park’s Natural and Cultural Resources Management Division and our Wildland Fire Staff. Safety of the public is paramount while meeting our natural resources and fuels management goals.”

Near the center of the park, a 547 acre fire is planned just south and east of Dune Acres. The Howes Prairie/Lupine Lane prescribed fire is one of the oldest planned prescribed fires at the National Park. Managers conducted the first ever prescribed fire at the Dunes here in 1986.

In Porter, the west half of the Mnoke Prairie will be burned. This 56 acre parcel is at the extreme west end of Beam Street.

Near Ogden Dunes and Portage, the National Park will be burning 150 acres in and around the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk area. And on the west and south side of Ogden Dunes, parallel to US 12, 95 acres are planned to burn. Prescribed fire around Ogden Dunes is conducted to reduce the threat of wildfires to the town while helping to maintain native ecosystems.

Inside of West Beach, 2 parcels will be burned. The first, along the south side of the entry road, and on the north side of Long Lake is approximately 31 acres. An additional 11 acre piece along the boundary line on the east of side of West Beach will help to further reduce the threat of wildfire to Ogden Dunes.

An online map of the planned prescribed fire areas can be found at https://bit.ly/INDUSpring2022Fires

Residents of Lake and Porter Counties may sign up to receive prescribed fire notifications through the Smart911 system. Go to www.smart911.com to sign up for this free service that provides emergency notifications, a private 911 safety profile and a vulnerable needs registry. Additionally, the National Park announces prescribed fire activity on its Facebook page, www.facebok.com/IndianaDunesNPS