Prescribed burns planned at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this spring Updated 10:27 AM; Today 10:27 AM National Park Service fire personnel patrol the fireline on a 2019 prescribed burn in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.National Park Service Facebook Share EMPIRE, MI – Don’t be alarmed if you notice smoke and fire at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this month. The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire in up to four burn units as early as April 19. A prescribed fire is a management tool used to maintain healthy ecosystems, replenish fire dependent ecosystems, reduce available fuels in the event of wildfire, and assist with the management of invasive species.