Smoke from Range Fire at Jefferson Range and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Indiana

Incident took place last thursday

A range fire was ignited on Jefferson Range on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 during standard training exercises at Jefferson Range. Jefferson Range and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) are overlaid on the Army’s former Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG), located between Madison, Versailles and North Vernon, Indiana. The fire was ignited on the 50-acre range located in the center of the former Proving Ground; the fire is approximately 500 acres in size and is found mostly in the area around a Precision Guided Munitions Range located on Jefferson Range. Helicopter rounds ignited light grasslands and leaves on Jefferson Range around 3:30 PM on October 19. These rounds also ignited a portion of Big Oaks NWR east of the range within the designated safety fan that surrounds this Range. Officials determined that the fires were within existing fire breaks and private land is not in jeopardy. Officials regularly contact Emergency Officials in each of the local counties (Ripley, Jennings, and Jefferson Counties) to inform them of the situation. Big Oaks NWR firefighters are currently monitoring and controlling these fires.

Wildland Firefighters from Big Oaks NWR conducted a burnout operation on October 20 and will continue this operation as needed to reinforce fire breaks. Currently this fire is 80% contained and is expected to produce smoke until rain arrives this week. These areas are periodically treated with prescribed fire to reduce fuels and reduce the risk of severe wildfire. These previous treatments have successfully reduced the severity of the current fires.

Refuge Manager Joe Robb stated, “I want to caution residents who have respiratory difficulties to stay inside and motorists to be aware of potential visibility hazards while they travel on the local roads.

Jefferson Range provides simulated real-world training missions that are critical for military personnel. The nature of the training involves ordnance that can ignite light grassland and leaves. Lt. Col. Ryan Harvey, Jefferson Range, stated that “I want to thank Big Oaks NWR firefighters and my staff for their dedication and professionalism during these operations. I understand the communities concerns, but we are confident these fires are contained.

Any questions concerning these fires may be directed to Refuge Manager Joe Robb or Fire Management Officer Brian Winters at 812-701-2308 at Big Oaks NWR or 181st Intelligence Wing Public Affairs at (812) 877-5471

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses more than 565 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies

Jefferson Range is determined to offer realistic training to military aircrew with a broadening emphasis on joint exercises that includes Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, urban warfare, and homeland defense. This will ensure that the core competencies of Developing Airmen, Technology to Warfare, and Integrating Operations are supported. This vision will encompass Combat Support, Close Air Support, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, small arms and Conventional as well as Tactical air to ground training.