A wildfire Friday in northwest Indiana burned virtually the entire area that was going to be burned today in a prescribed fire.
The fire was reported at 4:30 p.m. CDT in the Tolleston Dunes area in Indiana Dunes National Park west of County Line Road between highways 12 and 20. It was within the area that had been prepped for a prescribed fire. Since firelines had been established the blaze was easier to battle than your typical wildfire. However strong winds Friday afternoon were a factor. A nearby weather station recorded 29 percent relative humidity and winds out of the south at 18 to 28 mph with 30 to 40 mph gusts.
The forecast for Sunday calls for 34 degrees and almost an inch of precipitation consisting of a rain/snow mix.
Micah Bell, Fire Information Officer for the Great Lakes Fire Management Zone, said virtually the entire 274-acre project area burned before it was contained by the 15 firefighters at 9 p.m. Friday.
Obviously the planned prescribed fire was cancelled. Firefighters are mopping up at the blaze today.
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was upgraded to a National Park February 15, becoming the first National Park in Indiana.
— Indiana Dunes (@IndianaDunesNPS) February 15, 2019
Indiana Dunes had a reputation for problems with “restoration activists” committing arson and igniting wildfires on high quality areas.
Other coverage of the wildfire mentioned 3 ignition points.
I hope the “restoration activists” are not up to their old tricks.
At least they can still count the acres as treated for the fuels program.