Controlled Burns: Igniting Nature's Beauty Through Fire

Smokey Bear has warned us for a lifetime about the perils of wildfires.

But even ’ol Smokey approves of controlled burns. In fact, he endorses them.

In recent years, you may have witnessed a controlled (also called prescribed) burn occurring nearby. The Fox Valley Park District has been conducting this beneficial land management practice for more than 20 years, and crews have been out again this spring using the power of fire to restore health and vitality to various local parks and natural areas.

While the sight of ferocious orange flames might initially be alarming, these fires provide wondrous natural benefits. Carefully planned by certified professionals with the utmost attention to safety, controlled burns reduce invasive and undesirable “invaders.” This, in turn, stimulates growth of native species that make for healthier forests and prairies.

The Park District’s program encompasses at least 30 potential sites. Burns are performed on a rotating basis about every three years in early spring and late fall. This year, crews are targeting Tanner Trails, Church Road and Waubonsie Lake parks, along with areas around Splash Country Water Park and Blackberry Farm.

Without the use of periodic controlled burns, these areas would become less diverse ecosystems, crowded with dense overgrowth and littered with dead plant material. Fire removes this layer of vegetation that stifles growth and deprives plants of space and light.

The blackened carpet of charred remains and black ash that remains after a controlled burn will soon be bursting with new life and rich color.  What looks like scorched earth is actually a rich canvas where plant communities and animal habitats will thrive.

When the mantle of excessive brush is burned off, the area is regenerated. Shallow-rooted, noxious weeds such as thistle, sweet clover and garlic mustard that grow aggressively are greatly reduced, allowing native wildflowers and plants to gain the upper hand. Fire also stimulates plant seeds to germinate.

The remnant ashes also are full of nutrients from the burned vegetation, which greatly aids in new growth. And when burns are done in the spring, the blackened layer atop the soil becomes a magnet for sunlight, which further stimulates speedy germination, sprouting and growth.

Several weeks after a burn, the song birds, butterflies and wildlife throw a party as they return en masse to these rejuvenated areas. Park users may well join them in celebration, for these areas are happier and healthier as a result.

“Fire is one of nature’s essential agents of change,” said Natural Areas Supervisor Jennifer Vittori, a certified prescribed burn manager through the IDNR.  “Prescribed burns help the process along by restoring plant and wildlife diversity and enhancing natural settings.”

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. True. But if it’s a controlled burn, rest assured that new life will soon leap from those smoldering ashes.

Fox Valley Park District
Upcoming Events

• Saturday, April 16: Spring Spruce-up; 9 a.m. to noon at seven park sites (call 630-966-4555 to volunteer
• Saturday, April 16: Bunny Brunch at Prisco Community Center, 10:30 a.m. to noon.
• Saturday, April 16: Earth Day at Red Oak Nature Center, 1 to 3 p.m.
• Sunday, May 1: Blackberry Farm opens for season, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jeff Long is the public relations manager for the Fox Valley Park District. Visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org and click on the “Parks & Trails” tab for more information on controlled burns.