Controlled Burns Planned In Batavia Through December

BATAVIA, IL — Batavia residents may notice smoke showing throughout wildlife regions in the city in the coming weeks.

The fires aren't suspicious, city officials preempted in a news release. Controlled burns are planned at various stormwater basin areas in Batavia to improve native plant communities by reducing invasive species.

V3, the contractor hired by the city to conduct the burning, notified residents in the areas affected. The following areas will be set on fire before Dec. 31:

• Deerpath Road Bridge basin
• Windmill Lakes basin
• Normandy basin
• Braeburn Marsh (west of Randall Road)
• Mahoney Creek at Raddant Road and Cleveland Avenue

The Batavia Park District also hired a contractor, Bluestem Ecological, to conduct prescribed burns between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15 at Payne Woods Park, Prairie Lathem Park, Prairie Path Park and Laurelwood Park.

Both burn contractors received permits for all locations from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and have notified the Batavia police and fire departments, the Kane County Department of Health and Tri-Com Central Dispatch of plans, according to the release.

City officials directed anyone with questions to the Public Works Department at 630-454-2300.