Watch CBS News

Forest Preserves To Get Started With Annual Spring Burns

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you're driving near any of the Chicago area's forest preserves over the next few weeks, don't be surprised if you see some smoke and fires. It's the time of year for "controlled burns."

Forest preserve districts carry out "controlled burns" in fall, after plants go dormant; and in spring, before they come back to life.

One of the main purposes is to get rid of invasive plant species like honeysuckle and buckthorn.

"Those two, we could either cut and remove it, to help kind of restore our native ecosystems, and that's extremely labor intensive – you can imagine a guy out there with a chainsaw cutting it," said DuPage County Forest Preserve District project coordinator Nick Fuller.

Podcast

The fires also help speed up the return of valuable nutrients to the ground.

Fuller said it's the modern version of what has happened in forested areas throughout history.

"Either lightning strikes, or Native Americans used to set them to manage the lands themselves for either to increase the capabilities of hunting; to basically be able to view on a larger landscape, possibly enemies coming up to their camps," he said.

The burns are conducted by experts, and weather is a significant factor in determining when and where they're done. It can't be too wet, too windy, or too warm.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.