Indiana NWTF Invests in Prescribed Fire Education

The Indiana State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation recently invested $18,000 in Purdue University's Forestry and Natural Resources Extension program to support the purchase of a new Learn-N-Burn trailer. The mobile resource will travel throughout Indiana, helping landowners and conservation professionals gain the knowledge, confidence and hands-on experience needed to safely conduct prescribed burns.

Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools available for improving wildlife habitat. When properly planned and conducted, controlled burns help reduce unwanted vegetation, encourage native plant growth and create the open, diverse landscapes wild turkeys need to thrive.

For wild turkeys, those benefits are especially important during nesting and brood-rearing seasons, when hens and young poults depend on a healthy mix of grasses, wildflowers and protective cover.

But knowing fire is beneficial and feeling comfortable putting it on the ground are two different things.

For many private landowners, the thought of intentionally setting fire to their property can be intimidating. Concerns about controlling the flames, changing weather conditions, equipment needs and potential liability can prevent landowners from using a tool that could significantly improve their habitat.

That's where education makes a difference.

Led by Danielle Howard, Purdue Extension prescribed fire specialist, the Learn-N-Burn program helps bridge that gap through hands-on training and practical experience. Participants learn how to develop burn plans, coordinate personnel and resources, understand fire behavior and properly conduct prescribed burns.

“The Learn-N-Burn trailer will be used across the state to increase the amount of controlled burns on private lands,” said Pat Navarre, Indiana NWTF State Chapter education and outreach chair.

The trailer will make those opportunities more accessible by transporting essential equipment, including drip torches, hand tools, water pumps, weather-monitoring equipment and protective gear, to training locations throughout the Hoosier State.

Purdue aims to conduct at least three training events annually, reaching approximately 25 participants at each event.

Education is just one piece of responsible prescribed fire management. Landowners should also familiarize themselves with their state's prescribed fire laws, negligence standards, permitting requirements and potential liability before conducting a burn. Regulations and legal protections vary by state, making it important to understand local requirements and seek appropriate training before getting started.

Beyond individual workshops, the trailer will support the development of prescribed burn associations, or PBAs, throughout Indiana. These locally organized groups bring neighboring landowners together to share equipment, resources and experience, making prescribed fire more accessible and less intimidating for those new to the practice.

The investment also supports the NWTF's Roots to Roost initiative, which focuses on improving wild turkey habitat throughout the Midwest. With much of the region's landscape privately owned, working directly with landowners and providing them with educational resources is essential to making meaningful conservation progress.

The trailer builds on similar NWTF-supported efforts in neighboring states, including Missouri, where mobile burn equipment has helped expand training opportunities and support local prescribed burn associations.

Additional project partners include the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, The Nature Conservancy, the Sam Shine Foundation and the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council.

While the trailer itself is a one-time investment, its impact could stretch across Indiana for years to come. Each workshop has the potential to turn uncertainty into confidence, giving more landowners the tools and knowledge to responsibly return fire to the landscape.