Smoke Signals Campus Prairie Burn

Annual prescribed burn deters growth of invasive species on campus

That smoke you smelled on the Evanston campus today wasn’t from a spring break barbecue.

Northwestern University Facilities Management oversaw the annual prescribed burn around the lagoon near Norris University Center. Controlled by trained firefighters, the maintenance procedure acts as a deterrent to invasive species and promotes the growth and health of prairie grasses and other native plants.