Shawnee National Forest begin prescribed fires Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work
Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/27/2026 - 03/31/2026
12:00 am
Categories
(Harrisburg, IL, February 27, 2026) — The Shawnee National Forest is planning
prescribed fire operations this spring, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to
continue as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown
vegetation 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, 1031 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, 1514 acres, Pope County
• Turpen, 122 acres, Pope County
• Pennant Bar, 359 acres, Pope County
• Joiner, 324 acres, Pope County
• Simmons Creek, 2176 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, 1234 acres, Alexander County
• Sharp Rock, 1292 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.
We 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. We will notify
county emergency management officials when burning begins.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has, for more than 100 years, brought people
and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science
and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature
and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote
lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public
land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland
fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct
or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over
130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.