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When it’s carefully controlled, a prescribed burn can be a very good thing.

Each spring and fall, the Forest Preserve District of Kane County conducts prescribed burns across prairies, woodlands and wetlands in an effort to restore and maintain the ecological health of a site.

“These carefully controlled burns help release nutrients from burned plant material, encourage seed growth and expose bare soil to sunlight so native plants can flourish,” said Pat Chess, Director of Natural Resources. “Prescribed burns also reduce the abundance of non-native brush such as buckthorn and honeysuckle.”

Before a controlled 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 notifies local authorities before initiating a prescribed burn and after the burn is complete. Staff notify adjacent residents via mail, so that those with health concerns can avoid the smoke.

Targeted sites for the fall 2025 burn season include portions of the following preserves:

  • Almon Underwood Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Andersen Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Arlene Shoemaker Forest Preserve in Aurora

  • Aurora West Forest Preserve in Aurora

  • Barnes Forest Preserve in Aurora

  • Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock

  • Binnie Forest Preserve in West Dundee

  • Blackberry Maples Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Bliss Woods Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove

  • Bolcum Road Wetlands Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Bowes Creek Greenway Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Bowes Creek Woods Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Braeburn Marsh Forest Preserve in Batavia

  • Brunner Family Forest Preserve in Dundee

  • Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve in Burlington

  • Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Campton Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Chicago Premium Outlet Wetlands in Aurora

  • Culver Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove

  • Dick Young Forest Preserve in Batavia

  • Eagles Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Elburn Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva

  • Ferson Creek Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Fox River Bluff West Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Fox River Forested Fen Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Fox River Shores Forest Preserve in Carpentersville

  • Freeman Kame - Meagher Forest Preserve in Gilberts

  • Glenwood Park Forest Preserve in Batavia

  • Grunwald Farms Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve in Geneva

  • Great Western Trail - Brown Rd.

  • Great Western Trail - Tangalos

  • Hampshire Forest Preserve in Hampshire

  • Hannaford Woods/Nickels Farm Forest Preserve in Sugar Grove

  • Helm Woods Forest Preserve in Barrington Hills

  • Hoscheit Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Jelkes Creek Forest Preserve in West Dundee

  • Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve in South Elgin

  • Kenyon Farm Forest Preserve in South Elgin

  • Lake Run Forest Preserve in Aurora

  • LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Les Arends Forest Preserve in Batavia

  • Lone Grove Forest Preserve in Maple Park

  • McLean Fen Forest Preserve in South Elgin

  • Meissner Prairie - Corron Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Mill Creek Forest Preserve in Batavia

  • Mill Creek Greenway Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve in Hampshire

  • Oakhurst Forest Preserve in Aurora

  • Otter Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Philip B. Elfstrom Events in Geneva

  • Pingree Grove Forest Preserve in Pingree Grove

  • Prairie Green Forest Preserve in Geneva

  • Rutland Forest Preserve in Hampshire

  • Sauer Family Prairie Kame Forest Preserve in Elburn

  • Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve in West Dundee

  • Sleepy Hollow Ravine in West Dundee

  • Stony Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles

  • Treiber Family Forest Preserve in Gilberts

  • Tyler Creek Forest Preserve in Elgin

  • Willoughby Farms Forest Preserve in West Dundee

For more information on prescribed burns, contact the Forest Preserve District of Kane County at 630-232-5980, visit www.kaneforest.com or find the District on social media by searching @forestpreserve.

This information was provided by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

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