Fire
The Midewin Fire Program consists of
- a Forest Fire Management Officer (FFMO),
- a Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer (FAFMO),
- a Fuels Specialist,
- an Interagency Hotshot Crew,
- a Type 3 Helicopter crew, and
- a Type 6 Engine crew.
The FFMO, Fuels Specialist, IHC, and Type 6 engine crew are located at the Supervisor's Office is Wilmington IL. The FAFMO and Type 3 Helicopter crew are located at the Greater Kankakee Airport in Kankakee IL.
Wildland Fire Operations
Approximately three to five wildland fires occur each year at Midewin NTP caused by multiple sources, including lightning strikes, railroad sparks, downed powerlines and arson.
When not engaged with work locally, Midewin NTP fire personnel support other areas both nationally and internationally with all-hazard incident response and fuels work.
Prescribed Burning
On average approximately a third of Midewin NTP or 7,000 acres are treated with prescribed fire. Additionally, a few thousand acres are mechanically treated with mowers and masticators.
Prescribed burning is beneficial in many ways, including:
- Reduces hazardous fuels;
- Minimizes the spread of plant and animal disease;
- Provides forage for animals;
- Improves habitat for threatened and endangered species;
- Recycles nutrients back to the soil; and promotes the growth of forbs, tallgrasses, wildflowers and other plants; and
- Removes non-native invasive species that threaten native prairie species.
Invasive Species Removal
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, invasive species cost the United States approximately $200 billion each year.
Some non-native invasive plant species that have been targeted in recent years at Midewin NTP include:
- Autumn olive;
- Cattails;
- Garlic mustard;
- Honeysuckle;
- Multiflora roses;
- Phragmites (also known as giant reed);
- Reed canary grass;
- Teasels; and
- Willows.
These plants and more are featured in this guide by the USDA Forest Service and the Midewin Interpretive Association.
This Joliet Herald-News story explains more: “Prescribed burns in December are part of Midewin NTP restoration.”
To learn more about the Midewin Interagency Hotshot Crew, visit their facebook.
Contact Information
Forest Fire Management Officer
Chris Lundgren
Cell: 815-922-2502
Email: christopher.lundgren@usda.gov
Forest Assistant Fire Management Officer
Joe Parr
Office:
Cell: 779-233-7688
Email: joseph.parr2@usda.gov
Superintendent
Jerry Hoffman
Office: 815-423-2121
Cell: 815-210-0289
Email: jerry.m.hoffman@usda.gov
Fuels Specialist
Josh Strohmeyer
Office: 815-423-2161
Cell: 779-240-0194
Email: joshua.strohmeyer@usda.gov
Engine Captain
Shaun Trabado
Office: 815-423-2161
Cell: 970-657-5028
Email: shaun.trabado@usda.gov
Helicopter Module Leader
Chris Gorman
Office:
Cell: 541-620-8242
Email: christoper.gorman@usda.gov