Weather permitting, Indiana Dunes National Park plans to burn portions of the Dunewood Campground to reduce the risk of wildfire. The burn will take place today, Monday, December 23rd, and the total burn area will be approximately 75 acres. The campground is closed for the season and will reopen on April 1, 2020.
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.
Residents of both Lake and Porter Counties can receive notifications of prescribed fires in and around the Indiana Dunes National Park by signing up for the free Smart911 system, paid for by each county. Residents can make a Smart911 profile, only seen by 911 Dispatchers, and also sign up for emergency and non-emergency notifications from local government. Receiving Prescribed Fire notifications via the free system requires making a profile at www.smart911.com and opting in to "Prescribed Fire Notifications".
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
