Each summer Chicago Wilderness summarizes the triumphs and regrets of the previous burn season — October through April. The burns will have a major impact on the health and beauty of natural areas this summer. This year's dry spring made for great controlled burns.

	Dry conditions this spring allowed for more than 6,000 acres of safe controlled burns. Photo by Larry Godson.

But major wildfires raised concerns, mostly in areas where controlled burns were long overdue. Some wildfires slowed traffic on nearby expressways, and many were covered extensively on the evening news. Despite the alarmed tone of some of the broadcasts, the wildfires caused little problem to nature or the public — aside from inconvenience to motorists.

The wildfires underlined the importance of conducting controlled burns. Even in this spring's dry weather, land managers consistently conducted safe and effective controlled burns. Their efforts helped reduce the risk and severity of wildfires by clearing out dead plant material that could fuel an uncontrolled blaze.

County Reports
Last winter Brad Woodson of the McHenry County Conservation District ruefully told this magazine that the district had done no fall burns — but planned to burn 1,500 acres this spring. As shown in the table below, they safely burned 1,460 acres.

Ken Klick, a restoration ecologist for the Lake County Forest Preserves, was also pleased. "Our spring 2003 burn season provided an unprecedented number of good burn days — a total of 26 days and 1,286 acres burned. Dry conditions throughout the season allowed us to burn sites that have long been on our priority list," he said.

Cook County didn't fare so well, but the recent creation of the district's first three "Resource Management Crews" should help change that in the future. The staff burned only eight acres this spring (and 32 acres last fall), according to Resource Manager John Raudenbush. A much larger acreage was burned by contractors working with the Corporation for Open Lands and other partner agencies that are helping out the district. No statistics were available on these burns. There were about four to five hundred acres of wildfires, Raudenbush said.

Fire benefits most native plants and animals of the Chicago region. Drew Ullberg conducts controlled burns for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. He said that by early May he was already seeing grassland birds making themselves at home in prairie habitat that was burned a few weeks earlier.

Press Coverage Mixed
Unfortunately, some reporters still refer to fire as "destroying" rather than restoring the preserves. On April 16, radio station WBEZ reported that dry weather was creating a high risk of wildfires that threatened the region's natural areas. The report went on to say, "Fire experts say that means cigarettes tossed out of car windows . . . could set off serious wildfires and destroy hundreds of acres." Wild-fires can be a threat to people and property, but the oak woods, prairies, and wetlands benefited — whether the fire was controlled or wild.

Most of the region's media coverage was well-informed. On April 29 a Chicago Tribune picture caption pointed out, "A wildfire that swept through 700 acres in Illinois Beach State Park Sunday was seen as an ecological blessing for regrowth." On April 29, Frank Abderholden, a staff writer for the Waukegan News Sun quoted Park Superintendent Bob Grosso, saying, "This is quite beneficial to the environment down there. The fire eradicates invasive (plant) species and lets native species propagate."

On April 24, Pioneer Press reported on brush fires in Lake County. The story noted that, while the wildfires are a safety concern due to dry weather, the forest preserves' controlled burn program was continuing as planned, and the work was going smoothly. The story quotes two Lake county staffers. Jim Anderson said, "We have a very good relationship with local fire departments. And they trust us.'" Andrew Kimmel said, "These forests are adapted to periodic fires, and they return nutrients to the soil while helping kill off invasive species.'"

Where to See Habitats Rejuvenated by Fire
After a controlled burn, native plants grow with renewed vigor. Visitors to preserves will notice more wildflowers and a greater diversity of native plants in areas recently burned. The reinvigorated natural areas are not only attractive to people, they also appeal to wildlife. That makes them great places to spot animals such as birds and butterflies. See our list of places where curious nature lovers can see the benefits of controlled burns for themselves.

— Stephanie Folk and Alison Carney Brown