Techny Prairie Goes Up in Smoke

Eight workers arrived at Techny Prairie last week with one job to do: torch the place. How? By applying an ignited mix that includes gasoline and is heavy on diesel fuel. Why? Because the short-term destruction that controlled fires cause is actually constructive, or beneficial, if you will, for native plants. 

 “We do a no-go checklist and make sure we have everything in order, permits in place, firebreaks in place,” said Kevin Rische, senior project manager for Trillium Landscapes, the contractor hired by the village to do the job.

Without the fire, weeds and non-native species would overtake the prairie, and some plants, like the tall Indian grass that grows throughout, would simply die off. The downside of that is twofold. More than anything else, the Indian grass is what makes Techny Prairie special to look at. There’s also the fact that it’s especially good to have around for flood control purposes. 

 “The Indian grass is not damaged,” explained Kevin’s brother Chris Rische, who was also on scene, ready to play his part in the destruction. Chris is the company’s ‘Burn Boss,’ which means he’s especially adept at leaving behind a trail of scorched earth. Although they’re brothers, the two look as different as can be. Kevin is slimmer and appears more scholarly, while Chris is bigger, rugged and fun loving. But looks aside, compared to your every day arsonist, everyone on the team is a nerd, be it an ecologist, biologist, or certified wetlands specialist. 

Although every member on the Trillium team at the prairie is a qualified, certified— and for that matter bonafide—pyromaniac, the group only spends a couple of weeks every spring setting fires for municipalities, homeowners’ associations, officials overseeing wetlands, and sometimes homeowners interested in managing large areas of land in an environmentally enhancing way. That’s because any such fires must be completed before birds nesting season. Some years, there are no days suitable for setting such fires, in the short time frame; conditions remain too wet or too windy for effective and/or safe burning. 

“We did a burn in 2009, and one in 2011,” said Michael Brouillard, Northbrook Park District grounds manager. “Cost depends on the size; this burn cost $1,995.”

Brouillard explains that a prescription burn helps preserve the biological diversity, halt encroachment of invasive species and reduce the buildup of “vegetative fuels.” That’s combustible material like grass, leaves, ground litter, plants, shrubs and trees that could feed an uncontrolled blaze.

To avoid lots of calls to 911, the Park District notified residents around the area that the burn would take place, both by mail and by signage placed near the prairie in the weeks leading up to the event. 

Brouillard said that, to the best of his knowledge, the mailing and signs with notification of the burn worked. He said did not know of any residents calling the fire department, and the department itself was alerted.

By Thursday morning, it looked like everything had gone as planned. Large areas of the prairie were blackened and smelled of smoke, and the ash left behind was being kicked up by dust devils. A writer was astonished to see a coyote circle through them.