Controlled Burn Set For Saturday At Wolfe Wildlife, Park Prairie

OAK LAWN, IL — A controlled burn is set for Saturday at Oak Lawn Park District Prairie (105th Street and Menard Avenue) Wolfe Wildlife Refuge, 109th Street and Laramie Avenue. The burn will start around 11:30 a.m., pending weather conditions.

The burn will be conducted by Pizzo and Associates Burn Crew. According to the burn crew, the purposes of the prescribed or controlled burn is to remove debris and allow the plants for more access to sunlight.

“Our native plants and wildlife are not fire tolerant, they are fire-dependent. Removing fire from ecosystem management causes a rapid drop in productivity and a loss of biodiversity,” Pizzo’s website said. “It also helps to identify and treat populations of invasive species because the duff is removed that hides them. It also controls invasive brush by controlling its above-ground growth.”

So if you see smoke or someone freaking out on social media, don’t be alarmed.