Conditions are once again almost right for the Forest Preserve District to perform prescribed burns in various natural areas throughout Kane County. 

Each spring and fall, 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; open the woodland floor to sunlight so native wildflowers and plants can flourish; and, they reduce 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. 

Among grassland/wetland sites targeted for the spring burn season include portions of the following (in order of priority): 

• Dick Young Forest Preserve marsh area in Batavia 

• Dick Young Forest Preserve western prairies in Batavia 

• Brunner Family Forest Preserve in West Dundee & Fox River Shores fen in Carpentersville 

• Meissner-Corron Forest Preserve in St. Charles 

• Freeman Kame Forest Preserve wetland area in Gilberts 

• Hannaford Woods/Nickels Farm Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove 

• Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin 

Several woodland sites are also targeted for the spring burn season, For more information on prescribed burns, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at  630-232-5980.