Spring Prescribed Fires Planned for Indiana Dunes National Park

The National Park Service plans to conduct eight prescribed fires this Spring starting Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, which are expected to cover approximately 1,105 acres as part of the park's natural resources and fuels management programs.

Approximately 619 acres will be burned in the Cowles Dune area in the center of the park.

On the far west end of Beam Street, fire crews will burn 60 acres of prairie as part of the Mnoké Prairie Prescribed Fire. This unit is located north of the intersection of U.S. Route 20 and Interstate 94 in the Porter/Burns Harbor area.

In the eastern portion of the park, staff will burn 67 acres around the Dunewood Campground. These burns help reduce the risk of wildfire during the busy summer season. Just west of the campground, near the Glenwood Dunes Trail, an additional 92 acres south of Furnessville Road will be treated.

At the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education, on North Lake Street near Gary's Miller neighborhood, 16 acres will be burned to maintain defensible space around the facility. Defensible space is a buffer of reduced or modified vegetation designed to slow or halt the spread of wildfire, protect structures, and improve firefighter safety.

Toward the west end of the park, fire crews will treat 251 acres across two units within the Tolleston Dunes West prescribed fire area. This location lies west of County Line Road, north of U.S. 20, and south of U.S. Route 12.

A small, prescribed burn, conducted in partnership with The United States Geological Survey's Biological Resources Division, will also take place at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk. This research plot prescribed burn is less than one-quarter acre in size and will not affect visitor services.

Prescribed fire at Indiana Dunes National Park is an essential element in the park's long-term natural resources restoration goals. Fire helps remove invasive species, open tree canopies and increase wildlife habitat. It is also used to reduce the risk of wildfire by removing accumulated fuels before a wildfire can occur.

Residents of Lake and Porter Counties may sign up to receive prescribed fire notifications through the Smart911 system. Visit www.smart911.com to register for this free service, which provides emergency notifications, a private 911 safety profile, and a vulnerable needs registry. The National Park also announces prescribed fire activity on its Facebook page, www.facebok.com/IndianaDunesNPS.

More information on programs or projects at Indiana Dunes National Park, is available by phoning the visitor center's information line at 219-395-1882,on the park's website, the National Park Service app, and the park's Facebook page.