Prescribed Burn Notice
The Land Conservancy of West Michigan will be conducting an ecological prescribed burn at the nature preserve in your neighborhood this year!
Below is a list of the planned locations for prescribed burns and the target timeframe in which they will occur. Because burning safely requires particular weather conditions, we don’t yet know the exact date of the burn. If we are unable to burn safely within the target timeframe, the burn may be conducted at another time of the year. Those interested in receiving a notification the morning of the burn can sign up below.
2025 Prescribed Burns
Anderson Woods Nature Preserve
3901 Simonelli Road, Whitehall, MI
Target Timeframe: Spring
The Highlands
2715 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI
Target Timeframe: Spring
Maas Family Nature Preserve
10450 Summit Ave., Rockford, MI
Target Timeframe: Oct-Nov
McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve
11510 N. Walnut Ave, Bitely, MI
Target Timeframe: Spring
Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve
10471 Six Mile Road, Rockford, MI
Target Timeframe: Spring
Wege Foundation Natural Area
11715 Vergennes Road, Lowell, MI
Target Timeframe: Spring
Why Burn?
The preserve in your neighborhood contains an ecosystem that depends on periodic fire to stay healthy. Prescribed burns also restore open views and encourage a diversity of wildlife and wildflowers, making the preserve a better place for people to visit and enjoy. These kinds of burns are not like the destructive fires you hear about in the West – instead, they are low-intensity burns that help restore health and diversity to our forests here in Michigan.
Is Burning Safe?
Hundreds of prescribed burns are conducted safely in Michigan every year. The burn in your neighborhood will be conducted by a trained crew led by a burn boss with extensive prescribed fire experience. The burn will be carefully planned in advance, in close coordination with your local Fire Department and other local and regional authorities. Prescribed burns typically take about 2-3 hours to complete. The burn will be conducted in a way that minimizes smoke drift, but some neighbors prefer to close their windows while the burn is taking place.
Would you like to be notified?
If you would like to be notified the morning the prescribed burn is going to occur, you can sign up to receive an email notification by filling out this Google form. If you have questions or concerns, contact Conservation Director Justin Heslinga at justin@naturenearby.org or 616-552-9938.