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Crime & Safety

Don't Be Alarmed to See Fires in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles Preserves

The Kane Forest Preserve Plans plans controlled burns throughout the area this fall.

Don't be alarmed if you see fires at Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia, Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva or Meissner-Corron LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserves, Bolcum Road Wetlands or Great Western Trail in St. Charles. 

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County is set to perform prescribed burns in various natural areas in the Tri-Cities and a bunch of other locations in Kane County.

Each fall and spring, the 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. 

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“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 the fall burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority):

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  • Underwood Prairie Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Sycamore
  • Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve in St. Charles
  • Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
  • Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia
  • Lone Grove Forest Preserve in Maple Park
  • Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve in Hampshire
  • Aurora West Forest Preserve in Aurora
  • Pingree Grove Forest Preserve in Hampshire
  • Sauer-Prairie Kame Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Great Western Trail at Brown Road in Campton Hills
  • Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin
  • LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles
  • Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva
  • Bolcum Road Wetlands in St. Charles
  • Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin
  • Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Great Western Trail at Illinois Route 64 in St. Charles

 

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

  • Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove
  • Freeman Kame Forest Preserve/Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls in Gilberts
  • Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Helm Woods Forest Preserve in Barrington
  • Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva
  • Andersen Woods Forest Preserve in Saint Charles
  • Elburn Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Hampshire Forest Preserve in Hampshire
  • Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn
  • Lone Grove Forest Preserve in Maple Park
  • Kenyon Farm Forest Preserve in South Elgin
  • Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia
  • Tyler Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin

 

Before a 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 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: Forest Preserve District of Kane County

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