BEDFORD, Ind. (WISH) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is burning portions of the Hoosier National Forest.

The agency says in a news release issued Wednesday that the prescribed fires are used to maintain, restore and improve wildlife habitats and wetlands. The Forest Service also says the burns reduce woody material on the forest floor, limiting the risk of wildfires and increasing plant diversity.

All burns are planned, and people in the area are notified in advance, the Forest Service says.

Hoosier National Forest contains more than 202,800 acres (82,070 hectares) and sits about a 2-hour drive south of downtown Indianapolis. The forest was established in 1961.

This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV.

News release

“Prescribed fire season in progress on the Hoosier National Forest

“Bedford, Indiana. (March 13, 2024) — The USDA Forest Service is conducting seasonal prescribed burning this spring on the Hoosier National Forest.  Prescribed fire is used to maintain, restore or improve early successional habitat for wildlife, maintain wetlands, restore and maintain unique barren communities, and restore oak-hickory dominated ecosystems. It also reduces the amount of woody material on the forest floor, thereby lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and increases plant diversity. 

“Prescribed burns are conducted on National Forest System lands and through agreements with adjacent private landowners.  Areas being considered for burning have signage placed in advance, but determination of whether a fire will be implemented will be made on the day of the burn after careful evaluation of key factors and conditions. Forest staff notifies residents and businesses in the immediate area of a potential prescribed burn one or two days prior depending on neighbor preference. Check the Forest’s social media accounts for announcements of burns at www.facebook.com/HoosierNF/ and https://twitter.com/HoosierNF.

“Designated burn units are closed to all public entry, including hunting, on the day of the burn and until the area is considered safe. For your safety, please contact the Indiana Interagency Coordination Center Dispatcher (812-547-9262) if you plan to hunt or camp in or near a prescribed burn area. 

“Smoke is an unavoidable consequence of prescribed burning. Fire managers burn only under atmospheric conditions specified in a burn plan and rely on meteorologic data to choose days in which the impacts of smoke are minimized. Smoke plumes from a prescribed fire usually rise high into the air where the smoke dissipates. If smoke is present on roadways, motorists should reduce speeds and turn on headlights.

“All burns are implemented under carefully planned prescriptions and protocols to mitigate the risk of an escaped fire and smoke exposure to communities. Forest neighbors who wish to be notified of a specific date of a burn, or those who wish to report medical conditions that could be affected by smoke, may contact the Indiana Interagency Coordination Center Dispatcher at 812-547-9262.”

News release from Marion Mason, public affairs specialist, Forest Service | Hoosier National Forest