prescribed fire

Prescribed fire is a fire that is planned and conducted in a controllable manner to achieve a particular management objective. Prescribed fires are often called ‘controlled burns’ and are set under pre-determined weather conditions to ensure they are conducted safely and meet the management objectives.

This section will cover information about the following topics:

The benefits of burning
Prescribed fire for habitat management
Prescribed fire training
Burn planning
Laws pertaining to prescribed fire

Burning for Benefits

Prescribed fires are used to restore natural plant communities, improve forest health, enhance habitat for wildlife, control invasive plants, and many other reasons. Fire has been part of the natural world in Indiana for thousands of years. Learn more about the history of fire in Indiana, click here.

Blooms

Without fire, many native wildflowers don’t get enough sunlight to bloom. Across the forests and grasslands of Indiana, fire can help boost native plant diversity.

Oaks

Oaks and their acorns are important to wildlife, and without fire, it is very difficult for young oaks to grow. Prescribed fire is an important part of ensuring that we continue to have oak forests in Indiana.

Birds

Many of Indiana’s most threatened birds need grasslands, open woodlands, and young forest to nest and raise their young, which fire can help create.

Bees

Bees are deeply important pollinators of food for humans and wildlife alike, and fire can help boost their abundance and diversity. Without fire, wildflower diversity drops and grasslands important to bees become forests.

Butterflies

Natural areas managed with fire provide resources for butterflies. Some of Indiana’s rarest butterflies, such as the Karner blue butterfly, rely on fire-dependent plants and ecosystems to survive.

Bucks

Lots of landowners want deer on their properties, and fire can help attract them. Fire, especially when used with other techniques like thinning, can provide food and cover for deer

Bobwhites

Bobwhite quail are sometimes called “firebirds” because of how much they rely on fire. Fire encourages food sources and creates just the right habitat for quail.

Health

Regular fire decreases both ticks and tickborne illness. Fire kills ticks directly, creates drier conditions where ticks can't thrive, and reduces questing platforms.