Streamwood Park District will be conducting a prescribed burn of our native planting areas at Park Place Family Recreation Center, 550 S. Park Blvd., Dolphin Park, 880 S. Park Blvd., and Shady Oaks Park, 777 S. Bartlett Road. These prescribed burns are tentatively scheduled to take place this Thursday, April 9 and are subject to change due to weather conditions.
Please contact Horticulture Supervisor/Parks Manager Jessica Meyers with any questions.
Prescribed fire is a tool in native area management. It is used to control weeds, recycle nutrients and to encourage stronger native plant growth. Burns are carried out by a trained and equipped prescribed burn contractor. Burn permits are secured through the Illinois EPA upon review of a written burn plan specific to each site. The fire is contained around the perimeters of the prescribed burn areas by prior mowing, use of wet lines (spraying the vegetation along the edge with water) or back-burning.
The local fire department is notified prior to and upon completion of the prescribed burn on the day of the burn. The local fire company is not on site during a prescribed burn. They are notified in advance so if anyone calls in to say they see smoke the fire department is aware of the prescribed fire at the specified location.
Wind and smoke management are important considerations in any prescribed burn. An attempt is made by the burn contractor to minimize smoke drift whenever possible. Prairie fires usually burn very quickly and any smoke usually dissipates quickly. Heavy smoke is usually a result of landscape debris and leaves being dumped in the native areas.