Prescribed Burns
The purpose of a prescribed fire (prescribed or controlled burn) is to remove debris and allow the plants more access to sunlight. Our native plants and wildlife are not fire tolerant they are fire-dependent. Removing fire from ecosystem management causes a rapid drop in productivity and a loss of biodiversity. It also helps to identify and treat populations of invasive species as the material hiding them is removed and controls invasive brush by controlling its above-ground growth.
In the Midwest, the burn season starts in mid-October and ends in late April. We burn when the conditions are right for the sites. There are limited burn days due to it being so dependent on warm, dry weather. Our highly trained crews take safety precautions and use only our own specialized equipment under the supervision of Certified Prescribed Burn Managers. We will never go through with the prescribed fire if we feel that it is unsafe or could damage property.
FAQs
Buffalo Grove’s areas are fairly small, so the actual burning part of the process can range from 30 minutes to a few hours.
Significant preparation goes into each burn, the final decision to burn an area depends on staff availability and weather conditions. Since it is difficult to forecast specific weather conditions in advance, we cannot give accurate advanced notice to residents. Please contact Public Works at 847-459-2545 if you have a medical condition which may be exacerbated by airborne particulates.
We are constantly working to find better and better solutions to notify interested members of the public on a variety of issues. If you have a health condition which may be exacerbated by airborne particulates, please contact Public Works at 847-459-2545 to receive a morning-of call of nearby burning. Neighbors within ¼ mile receive an advanced notice letter and Public Works staff place signs to notify the surrounding neighborhood of any active burns.
Experienced staff from the Public Works Forestry Section have been working to prepare burn locations for weeks (even months) prior to each burn. Generally, burning is not conducted up to the property line, but focused on locations with excessive invasive species. If it is determined that fire could reasonably affect neighboring properties, we will not go through with the burn.