Illinois Prairie Burn

I was planning on getting a wide angle photo of an Illinois farm in the spring, but saw a large smoke cloud which distracted my original plan. Save the farm for tomorrow.  What looks like an uncontrolled fire next to a housing development is a prescribed burn of a natural area serving as a buffer for the subdivision. This is an early spring ritual in this area. One worker (the burner with the red hood on the far left) walks along dripping a fluid which is on fire, and multiple other workers stand by to control the fire.  The burner lights small sections at a time, and after that section is burned he walks upwind 10-20 feet and starts another small often triangular section on fire.

Prior to development, the Illinois prairie thrived by regular fires, both natural and fires set by native Americans.  Today prescribed prairie burns are done every 2-4 years.  The burn kills invasive plants and rejuvenates the soil by releasing nutrients. Burns are typically done on prairies owned by state and local parks.  This particular 9 acre burn was contracted by the homeowners association.  There was a light NW wind with no danger to the homes except smoke and occasional ash.

Did not get close to the fire, didn't want to melt the coating on my lens!
127th St and Ridge Road, Plainfield, IL