Sometime between March 2 and May 1, the Lombard Park District may conduct a prescribed burn in native planting areas at Sunset Knoll North Pond and Sunset Knoll Southeast Native Prairie.
This post is simply a courtesy notice to let residents know if they see smoke or fire activity in these areas.
Prescribed burns are a safe and carefully managed tool used in native landscape management. Fire helps control invasive weeds, recycle nutrients back into the soil, and promote stronger, healthier native plant growth.
Burns are conducted under specific weather conditions and supervised by trained professionals to ensure safety.
If you have any questions, please contact Dave Lemar at dlemar@lombardparks.com.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
Burns are conducted by a trained, 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 report seeing 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. The burn contractor attempts 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.
