Controlled burn training bill signed by Gov. Braun

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed into law a new bill that creates a state-supported training program for run controlled burns, taking Indiana off the list of the few states that do not have a program written into law.

Controlled burns, also called prescribed fires, is most commonly used to burn away excess vegetation and fuel that can cause a wildfire.

Now, private landowners can have training to use controlled burns to manage their property. If a controlled burn follows the law, it will be exempt from any burn bans issued by counties or municipalities.

Indiana’s Division of Forestry at the Department of Natural Resources will run the training to be certified and manage burn plans.

The Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (IPFC), who promoted the bill, say the new law is a boon to Indiana’s ecology and economy. They say that with the increased private property rights, federal funding and insurance for controlled burns will flood into the state. Without more legislation promoting controlled burns, oak forests – a cornerstone of Indiana’s $10 billion hardwood industry – would dwindle.

“Without widespread application of prescribed fire, our future supply of oak timber is bleak. Prescribed fire is the most effective and efficient way to begin the next crop of oaks needed to fuel this industry,” IPFC wrote in a press release.

Armed with training from the DNR, you can help protect Indiana’s landscapes which depend on controlled burns. “This bill marks an important step forward for conservation and private land stewardship in Indiana. With clearer training standards and liability protections, prescribed fire can continue to be applied safely, effectively, and more widely across the landscape,” IPFC Chair Jarred Brooke said.

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