INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK: One week after the 425-acre Miller Woods wildfire at Indiana Dunes National Park, all trails in that area have been reopened. Fire crews and park staff have ensured all trails in visitor areas are safe from any dangerous trees and other hazards.
Visitors are reminded to stay on designated trails and walkways at all times for their safety. While dead and hazardous trees near the trails have been removed, away from the trail, there are numerous dead trees and branches that can fall and are extremely dangerous. Stay on the trail for your safety. Wandering off trail can also cause damage to native plants and wildlife habitat as it recovers from the wildfire.
The 425-acre Miller wildfire began on Friday April 2nd. Fire crews from the National Park Service assisted by fire engines from the US Forest Service battled the fire into late Friday evening in order to get it contained. Crews have returned to the fire area every day to ensure no hot spots remain and to begin the recovery process. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Homes and property along North Lake Street were protected from the Miller wildfire thanks to prescribed fires that were conducted in the area on March 22nd. These prescribed fires provided a buffer between private properties and the wildfire thus protecting the properties. Indiana Dunes National Park uses prescribed fire as a tool to reduce the threat of wildfire to our community neighbors and also to assist in natural resources restoration.
For more information on fire in the Indiana Dunes National Park, go to: https://www.nps.gov/indu/learn/nature/fire-management.htm
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
