Wildland Fire Management Plan

Public and scientific opinion of wildfire and prescribed fire has changed over recent history. At times fire was only though of negatively and we prioritized suppressing all fires, naturally occurring or otherwise. However, today, based on scientific research, the benefits of fire are better understood by natural resource management agencies. At our park, the Wildfire Management team aims to use fire to reduce fuel loads in a controlled way, as well as restore fire-dependent ecosystems thereby allowing visitors to continue to experience ecosystems that represent a bygone, wild component of Michigan’s history.

Success Stories

In May of 2019, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service staff conducted the first ever broadcast prescribed fire over a wide area at Sleeping Bear Dunes. This prescribed fire was carried out in the Platte Plains, an area in the southern part of the park that has fire-adapted species such as Jack Pines.

News and Media

News relating to the wildland fire management program at Sleeping Bear Dunes can be found on the park's news releases page.