SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – The Shawnee National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations this spring, pending all required approvals.

Officials estimate this work to continue as weather conditions allow. Prescribed fires are used to help reduce overgrown vegetation in order to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.

Prescribed fires and the approximate sizes planned for Hardin, Johnson, Pope, and Saline Counties include:

Bebout, 60 acres, Hardin County
Little Cache, 605 acres, Johnson County
Fink Sandstone, 603 acres, Johnson County
Simpson, 572 acres, Johnson County
West Tract, 171 acres, Johnson County
Cherp C/D/J, 1,031 acres, Pope County
Dean East/Flumewalker, 96 acres, Pope County
Bullwinkle, 280 acres, Pope County
Agropelter, 399 acres, Pope County
Sulphur Springs, 1,005 acres, Pope County
Hootnanny, 329 acres, Pope County
One Horse Gap, 1,514 acres, Pope County
Turpen, 122 acres, Pope County
Pennant Bar, 359 acres, Pope County
Joiner, 324 acres, Pope County
Simmons Creek, 2,176 acres, Pope County
Stoneface/Dennison, 1537 acres, Saline County

Prescribed fires and the approximate sizes planned for Alexander, Jackson, and Union counties include:

Opossum Trot, 384 acres, Alexander County
Ozark Hill Prairie, 1,234 acres, Alexander County
Sharp Rock, 1,292 acres, Jackson County
State of Illinois, 564 acres, Jackson County
Bald Knob, 809 acres, Union County

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.

For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road.

Officials 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 by using the online Prescribed Fire Interactive Map to view and locate past prescribed burns and future planned burns. In addition, follow social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system for prescribed burn notifications for current fire information. Officials will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.