See Clouds of Smoke? It's Likely Prescribed Burns for Spring

See Clouds of Smoke? It’s Likely Prescribed Burns for Spring

/ March 18, 2015 / Comments Off on See Clouds of Smoke? It’s Likely Prescribed Burns for Spring / Kane County Forest Preserve District, Parks and Recreation, Police & Fire, Public Safety

If you see clouds of billowing smoke on the horizon, don’t panic. This time of year, a likely reason for the fire is a prescribed burn, either by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County or another agency.

With the onset of warmer weather, conditions are once again right for the Forest Preserve District to perform prescribed burns in various natural areas.

Each spring and fall, the Forest Preserve District conducts prescribed burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in an effort to improve or maintain the ecological health of a site.  These carefully controlled burns release nutrients from burned plant materials, encourage seed growth, and open the woodland floor to sunlight so native wildflowers and plants can flourish. Prescribed burns also reduce the abundance of non-native brush such as buckthorn.

“Fire is a natural and essential ingredient of healthy native ecosystems,” said Drew Ullberg, director of natural resources for the Forest Preserve District. Fires perform a ‘house cleaning’ function for nature and woodlands.  Prairies are adapted to fire, and depend on it to maintain their unique character,” he said.

Grassland/wetland sites targeted for this burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority):

  • Forested Fen Forest Preserve in Elgin
  • Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia
  • Fox River Shores Forest Preserve in Carpentersville
  • Pingree Grove Forest Preserve in Pingree Grove
  • Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock
  • Freeman-Kame Forest Preserve/Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts
  • Campton Forest Preserve in Saint Charles
  • Sauer/Prairie Kame Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
  • Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin
  • Aurora West Forest Preserve in Aurora
  • Grunwald Farms Forest Preserve in Kaneville
  • Mill Creek Forest Preserve in Batavia
  • Bolcum Road Wetlands in St. Charles

Woodland sites targeted for this burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority)

  • Helm Woods Forest Preserve in Barrington
  • Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
  • Long Grove Forest Preserve in Maple Park
  • Freeman-Kame Forest Preserve/Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts
  • Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock
  • Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva
  • Andersen Woods Forest Preserve in Saint Charles
  • Hannaford Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
  • Kenyon Farm Forest Preserve in South Elgin
  • Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin
  • Elburn Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia

Before a controlled burn, trained staff survey the preserve and create a detailed plan of action. They then carefully monitor the weather and wait until conditions are right, to minimize the chance of smoke blowing toward homes and roads. Staff also notify residents via mail, so that those with health concerns can avoid the smoke.

Information is also posted on the Forest Preserve District website at www.kaneforest.com and on social media.

For more information on prescribed burns, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at 630-232-5980.

SOURCE: Kane County Forest Preserve District press release

Tags: , ,