WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The US Forest Service is planning on conducting some 18 prescribed burns across Hoosier National Forest.
The Forest Service announced today they are planning to burn some 4,500 acres of land in the state’s only national forest, this Fall.
The burns will take place in Jackson, Martin, Orange and Perry counties, in South Central Indiana. The exact dates of the burns are dependent on weather conditions and the dryness of the area. The National Forest Service is expecting to complete most of its burns before Spring, but says its possible they may have to resume burning forested areas if it is a particularly wet Fall in South Central Indiana. Wind direction is often a limiting factor due to adjacent roads or private homes.
Each of the areas has been identified to improve wildlife habitat or restore woodlands. In some cases wetlands, woodlands, or barrens are being restored; in others, the fire is used to enhance oak-hickory regeneration or to maintain early successional habitat in wildlife openings.
For additional information about the burns, contact the US Forest Service offices in Bedford.
