The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is gearing up for prescribed burns on state lands, including Prudence Island and Dutch Island. These controlled fires are part of ongoing efforts to maintain diverse habitats and protect communities from severe wildfires.
Weather permitting, the first prescribed burn of 2025 is set to happen this week on Prudence Island. DEM will announce exact burn dates just a day before, as they depend on weather and wind conditions.
The low-severity burns will target several locations across Rhode Island. Besides Prudence Island in Portsmouth and Dutch Island in Jamestown, other areas include parts of Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Richmond, Glocester, and South Kingstown.
DEM’s Forest Fire Program, which falls under the Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment, is in charge of these prescribed burns. The team follows carefully crafted operational and safety plans developed by qualified burn bosses.
In 2024, DEM successfully treated 130 acres of state property with prescribed fire, a significant increase from the previous year’s efforts.
To keep the public informed, DEM will share updates on social media and hand out flyers to nearby landowners and neighbors once specific burn dates are set.
For those interested in learning more about DEM’s programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov or check out their social media accounts.
