Joliet Woman Burned in Intentional Forest Preserve Fire: Lawsuit

A Joliet woman suffered burns when she walked through a “prescribed fire” in a forest preserve after firefighters told her it was safe to proceed, according to a lawsuit filed in Will County court.

Patricia Paris was burned on her face, neck and legs, said her attorney, Jennifer Bonesteel. Paris is suing the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Paris and a friend were walking in the forest preserve near the Black Road library in March when they noticed firefighters conducting a “controlled burn,” Bonesteel said. They went to turn back but the “firefighters then informed (Paris) and her friend that it was safe to continue walking through the fire,” according to the suit, which said the flames were on the edges of the trail.

Paris and her friend pressed on but “began to feel the fire get hotter,” the lawsuit said. They then fled, Bonesteel said. Paris’ friend was able to escape but Paris, who suffers from asthma that was aggravated by the smoke and heat, took longer to get out and was burned, she said.

The firefighters apparently didn’t realize the danger Paris and her friend were in, Bonesteel said, and according to the lawsuit, “were no longer paying attention to the walkers.”

Paris was treated at the Loyola University Medical Center burn unit, Bonesteel said.

“It’s a sad situation all around,” she said.