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. The burns will take place in either the spring or the fall. Because burning safely requires particular weather conditions, we don’t yet know the exact date of the burn. Those interested in receiving a notification the morning of the burn can sign up below.
2026 Prescribed Burns
Bradford Dickinson White Nature Preserve
12589 36th Street, Lowell, MI
Brower Lake Nature Preserve
8748 Je-Ne-Be Dr., Rockford, MI
The Highlands
2715 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI
McDuffee Creek Nature Preserve
11510 N. Walnut Ave, Bitely, MI
Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve
10471 Six Mile Road, Rockford, MI
Upriver Nature Preserve
13113 N. Walnut Avenue, Bitely, MI
Wege Foundation Natural Area
11715 Vergennes Road, Lowell, MI
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.