Controlled Burn Season Begins at Forest Preserves

Controlled burn season is starting in Lake County Forest Preserves. The burns improve habitat for native plants and wildlife, according to the forest preserve district.

Specially trained and equipped Forest Preserve staff and volunteers carefully conduct the controlled burns, selecting sites based on wind and other weather conditions.

Every spring and fall for the past 23 years, the Lake County Forest Preserves has safely conducted controlled burns to restore and improve natural plant and animal communities. Native woodlands, savannas, prairies and wetlands are fire dependent communities that require regular controlled burns to maintain their ecological value.

Over the next few months, you may see Forest Preserve crews of trained professionals burning high-quality habitats or restoration areas in forest preserves throughout Lake County. Wind and other weather conditions are monitored daily to help determine which preserves are selected for controlled burns.

Click here to find which preserve is scheduled to receive a controlled burn, and to learn more about the entire land management program.

Controlled burns replace historical fires that naturally occurred in Lake County for thousands of years. They decrease invasive woody plants, remove dead leaves, and expose the soil and seeds to the sun's rays.

This encourages native plants to grow more vigorously and to produce more flowers and seed, increasing their populations. Wildlife populations are adapted to survive the burns. Most animals are safe underground or high up in trees; others move out of the way to avoid fires. Controlled burns are scheduled to avoid the breeding season of native wildlife.

Natural areas being managed by controlled burns are showing improvement. In woodlands, which are generally targeted in the fall for controlled burns, invasive brush is reduced and native plants are rebounding.

Controlled burns are the most cost efficient management tool available to land managers. Forest Preserve staff and volunteers complete intensive training before conducting controlled burns to ensure that proper safety measures are taken to protect people, facilities, plants and animals in the preserves and on surrounding properties.

Local fire and police departments are notified before and after each controlled burn. Forest Preserve staff closely monitor each burn with appropriate safety equipment and, if necessary, stays overnight on site.

Forest Preserve staff continues to provide specialized wildfire training to area fire departments to improve their skills when responding to fires that may happen in natural areas under their jurisdiction.