Wilmington, Illinois – A prescribed burn is planned Wednesday along a key corridor at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, prompting officials to warn visitors to stay out of posted areas.
According to a U.S. Forest Service social media notice from Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the fire management team intends to conduct prescribed burning along Chicago Road from the Hoff Road Trailhead south to Turtle Pond. The operation is also expected to include the seedbed area at Turtle Pond.
The agency said all operations remain pending the outcome of initial test burns. Visitors were instructed to follow all prescribed burn signage and to remain outside burn units and closure areas.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, managed by the USDA Forest Service, uses prescribed fire as part of routine land management and restoration. On its public information page, the Forest Service describes prescribed burning as a tool used to reduce hazardous fuels and support prairie habitat work. The agency also notes that, on average, about a third of Midewin’s landscape — roughly 7,000 acres — is treated with prescribed fire.
The Forest Service’s Midewin fire program includes dedicated fire staff and interagency resources, and the agency says personnel can support incidents beyond the local area when needed.
Officials did not announce specific start and end times for Wednesday’s burn in the notice, and conditions such as weather and staffing can affect whether and when prescribed fire proceeds.
For students, young workers, and commuters who use trailheads or nearby routes, the Forest Service urged extra attention to posted signs and temporary access restrictions in the burn area.
