THE 2019 LEADERSHIP AWARD

​The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council’s Leadership Award recognizes individuals with exceptional achievements in the prescribed fire community.   

JOHN PETERS

​John Peters is a quality leader who has contributed a quarter century of fire work at the McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD), where their fire program has consistently burned many acres at a variety of sites. MCCD is known for getting fire in all sorts of habitats, from wetlands and woodlands to the easier to do prairie fires, and John has played a key role in planning and executing these successful burns. With over 25 years of experience, John Peters has helped foster a dynamic and rich, safe and efficient work ethic with the MCCD fire program, working with a cohort of great colleagues who are knowledgeable about fire; from Ed Collins, Brad Woodson, Tom Simpson and Jeff Murray to the next generation of Chris Zeiner and Adam Rex. John can discuss any topic on fire, from weather and smoke management to pumper units and brush thinning. John is generous with his time and goes above and beyond, demonstrating true leadership in the MCCD fire program.

THE 2019 Spark AWARD

​The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council’s Spark Award recognizes individuals with high achievement early in a career.

ELLIOT MEDINA

© Joe Occhiuzzo

Elliot Medina started his fire career with the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) as an intern on the Audubon Chicago Region Conservation Corps crew in 2010 and 2011, and it continued when he was hired full time in January of 2012. He was clearly bitten by the burn bug and wanted to take on as 

much responsibility as possible from the get-go. He quickly rose from a crew member to crew boss, and then into his current role of burn boss. Elliot does not miss burn days, and in his career with the FPCC he has missed one ​​​out of a possible 137 burn days. Elliot has participated in 320+ burns overall and burn bossed 140 burns since earning his Illinois Prescribed Burn Manager certification, resulting in 5,000+ acres burned under his direction. He has mentored countless Conservation Corps crew members, volunteers, students and staff, providing them insight and guidance along a path he has personally followed — from intern, crew member and crew boss to a skillful and capable burn boss. Elliot does an exemplary job of managing and engaging everyone who burns under his direction, and has earned the respect of his crew and the supervisory staff at the FPCC. Elliot is a professional, hardworking and safety-focused burn boss whose future potential is boundless, and whose will to learn exemplifies what the Spark Award is all about.