City to conduct prescribed burn at Oakley Sediment Basin – March 20

Decatur, IL – Macon County residents may see thick black smoke throughout the day on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 coming from Oakley Township as a prescribed burn occurs at the City’s sediment storage basin.

The City of Decatur and Macon County Conservation District will remove unwanted vegetation from the site with a prescribed burn, which should occur barring any unexpected weather change. We plan to start between 9:00am and 11:00am and the burn should last four to five hours.

The vegetation burns very hot and produces thick black smoke that can be alarming to the public. There are absolutely NO hazardous materials on site and citizens should not be concerned. Local authorities and fire officials have been notified that the burn will be taking place.

This burn will be conducted by certified and experienced individuals. Safety is our highest priority. Our goal is to keep smoke from blowing towards homes, roadways, and other smoke-sensitive areas.

The Oakley Sediment Basin is located on the site of 6705 Angle Crossing Road in Oakley, IL. If the public has any questions, they can call the Watershed & Lake Management Office at 217-424-2834.