The National Park Service (NPS) announces plans to burn a large debris pile at the Portage Lakefront and Riverwalk of Indiana Dunes National Park over the next three weeks.

The pile of rubble is located next to the beach.

“In recent years, storms have deposited large, tree-sized pieces of driftwood on the beach,” NPS said. “The material is scheduled to be burned over the next three weeks as weather conditions permit. Firefighters will burn the wood debris and spread the cooled ash to avoid endangering the public. Firefighters will use the same planning precautions used for prescribed fires when burning this pile. Off-road vehicles equipped with firefighting equipment will be on site for safety.”

“The public is reminded that campfires and grills are not permitted on any National Park Service beaches in Indiana Dunes National Park,” the NPS added. “On a windy day, a campfire or grill can start a vegetation fire that can be difficult to reach and extinguish. In addition, campfires, even when buried, can cause the sand to remain hot for extended periods of time, potentially causing burns to other visitors.”