National Park Service to Conduct Spring Prescribed Fires

Date: March 7, 2012
Contact: Dan Morford, 219-395-8840

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE: The National Park Service will conduct nine prescribed fires this spring at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Three burns will take place near the Miller area of Gary. The 140 acre Miller Woods Prescribed Fire is west of the Douglas Center on Lake Street. Thirty-eight acres of land between Lake Street and Grand Boulevard, north of 3rd Avenue make up the Grand Boulevard Prescribed Fire. Another 90 acres of park land make up the Woodlake Savanna Prescribed Fire along County Line Road between US 12 and 5th Avenue.

Two burns will occur near the City of Portage. Approximately 58 acres of land along the entrance road and east boundary of West Beach will be burned. Another 146 acres will be burned south of US12 and north of Stagecoach Road in Inland Marsh. As part of the national lakeshore's continuing restoration of Mnoké Prairie, 193 acres of this prairie will be burned. This fire is along the north side of Beam Street and west of Howe Road near the Town of Porter. In Pine Township the national lakeshore will be burning 170 acres of land known as Calumet Dune. Located between Kemil Road and County Road 375 East, this burn is on the south side of US 12.

Near the City of Hobart approximately 38 acres will be burned in the park's Hobart Prairie Grove area. This portion of the park is located on the north and south sides of Lake County Park's Oak Savanna Trail. This area is east of Liverpool Road and south of West 49th Avenue in Hobart.

The prescribed fire program at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is conducted by trained and experienced National Park Service fire personnel. Smoke dispersal is a primary concern and park staff will do everything possible to limit smoke in the area by monitoring wind and atmospheric conditions prior to ignitions. However, smoke drifting in and around park lands and roadways is possible.

Clear management goals and objectives have been established for each burn unit. Before burning, a designated set of conditions must exist including ideal air temperature, 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.