Controlled Burns on Village-Owned Property | Occurring Over the Next Several Weeks

Baxter & Woodman Natural Resources (BWNR) will be performing controlled burns on Village-owned properties over the next several weeks.  

Prior to implementing controlled burns, BWNR obtains a prescribed burn permit from the Illinois EPA. All controlled burns are led by an Illinois Certified Burn Manager and experienced/trained burn staff. It is important to note that weather conditions drive all go/no go decisions and it is impossible to predict the exact days and times that controlled burns will occur.

Why perform controlled burns:

• Prior to European settlement in the 1830’s, Native Americans and lightning strikes ignited prairie and woodland fires on a regular basis. Native Americans used fire for hunting purposes to flush game. Today, controlled burns are designed to preserve natural areas and are used as a stewardship tool in the ecological restoration process.
• Controlled burns reduce the amount of dead plant material or litter on the ground. Litter can have several negative effects on natural areas, including hindering plant growth, lowering soil temperatures and intercepting and absorbing rainfall. Burning also returns vital nutrients to soil.
• Controlled burns help prevent non-native and invasive plant species from invading and taking over natural areas. Fire is a particularly useful stewardship tool to keep invasive shrubs such as buckthorn under control. 
• Burn crews take the weather into careful consideration to ensure maximum safety and control for a burn on any given day. This includes monitoring wind speed, relative humidity, and a number of other factors. In addition, burn breaks are created at some locations to keep fire away from human structures.