East Central Reporter

Periods of warm, dry, and windy weather can lead to the dangers of wildfires in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) urges residents to become more vigilant and educated on wildfire safety to prevent incidents. In the last decade, there have been instances of large fires at state park properties.

IDNR suggests several safety tips to help prevent wildfires, including avoiding burning when winds are above 5 miles per hour or when the relative humidity is under 40 percent. Other safety tips include: burning in protected areas with no combustible materials within 10 feet around for small fires and 50 feet for larger fires; checking the fire weather forecast before burning; avoiding welding and grinding in areas with dry vegetation; avoiding parking in areas with tall vegetation; keeping campfires small, in protected areas, and burned during nighttime hours within fire grates; safely disposing of any lit cigarettes, cigars, or other smoking material; and having a bucket of water and shovel on hand to thoroughly drown out fire prior to leaving the area.

Illinois residents also need to be aware of wildfire smoke, which has become more common in recent years. Wildfires burning out west or in Canada can bring a haze of smoky air to Illinois, posing health risks for some. Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particulate matter from burning vegetation and materials.

Prescribed or controlled burns occur in Illinois and serve several purposes. In the Shawnee National Forest, prescribed burns typically take place between October and May. The objectives may differ but generally fall into one or more categories: stimulating growth of native vegetation, improving wildlife habitat, enhancing visual quality of the area, and reducing the likelihood and severity of a wildfire.

Native grasses and wildflowers are adapted to survive fires with deep root systems that grow several feet underground. This allows these plants to flourish following a fire event by taking advantage of fresh nutrients in the soil. Prescribed fires can burn off invasive plant species and allow native grasses and wildflowers to thrive.

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