The Naperville Park District is fired up about spring.
That’s because trained crews are now out conducting controlled burns at select parks this season.
Why Conduct Burns?
It’s all done to improve the habitat and help native plants regrow for the spring and summer, while killing off non-native and invasive species.
How it Happens
But the process is entirely dependent on the weather.
“The wind speed should be anywhere from 3 miles per hour to 15 miles per hour and today it’s actually at 8 miles per hour so it’s a perfect wind speed. And the humidity is at 42 percent, which is perfect. You typically want 35 up to 60. If it’s up to 60 percent in humidity we’re going to get a lot of smoke,” explained Park Specialist I Steve Kulesza.
After the fire department is notified of the burns, crews carefully ignite the area, with water and tools in hand to control the flames.
The park district’s controlled burns first began in 2004.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
