The National Park Service is planning to conduct six prescribed fires this spring at Indiana Dunes National Park totaling more than 900 acres. 

In the area of Porter Beach, the park plans to burn approximately 23 acres of land being restored by the park. The area surrounded by Wabash Ave, Roskin Rd and the west boundary of the State Park is currently undergoing restoration efforts by the National Park’s Resource Management program. 

Just south of Porter Beach and Dune Acres, the park will complete the Howes Prairie/Lupine Lane Prescribed fire originally initiated last fall. Approximately 414 acres west of Waverly Road, north of the Calumet Trail, and east of Mineral Springs Road will be burned.   

In Porter, on the west end of Beam Street, the park plans to burn 142 acres as part of a long-term restoration project of the Mnoke Prairie. 

In Gary, just west of County Line Road and south of US Highway 12, the Tolleston Dunes burn will assist in restoring approximately 330 acres of rare black oak savanna. The 66-acre portion of the unit is immediately adjacent to County Line Road, while the 264-acre portion is west of the Woodlake Dune apartments on Union Street. 

Around the park’s Douglas Center for Environmental Education on North Lake Street in Gary, the park will burn 16 acres in order to protect the structure from future wildland fires.  

An online map of the planned prescribed fire areas can be found at bit.ly/INDUSpring2023Fires 

Residents of Lake and Porter Counties can 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 Service announces prescribed fire activity on its Facebook page. 

Original source can be found here