Hoosier National Forest Begin Prescribed Fires

Bedford, Sept. 12, 2025 — Hoosier National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations starting in mid-September, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through late spring of 2026 as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.  It is also essential to keep the oak-hickory ecosystem on the landscape in the central hardwood region.

Maps of prescribed fire units planned for the 2025-26 season are available on the Hoosier National Forest website.  Over the next nine months, up to 38 units totaling 10,367 acres, or 5% of national forest system lands, could receive fire treatments.  However, the 10-year annual average we are able to complete is about 3,400 acres due to limited windows of opportunity.

Those areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. 

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. Go to airnow.gov to find more detailed information about air quality. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled.

Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and the Forest’s new “real time” webpage that will show current, previous and upcoming prescribed fires. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.