DEM Resuming Prescribed Burns Across Rhode Island This Week
Summary
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management announced it will resume low-severity prescribed burns on state lands across Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Richmond, Glocester, Jamestown, and South Kingstown beginning the week of April 6, 2026. The burns target parcels at multiple management areas including Durfee Hill, Arcadia, Nicholas Farm, Big River, Dutch Island, Carolina, and Great Swamp Management Areas. DEM will provide advance notice through social media and website updates once burn windows are identified.
What changed
Rhode Island DEM is resuming its prescribed burn program for 2026 following 62 wildfires and 12 prescribed burns treating over 100 acres of state land in 2025. The burns are part of a broader strategy to reduce hazardous fuels, maintain healthy habitats, and strengthen regional ecological restoration and climate resilience. DEM notes climate change is increasing wildfire risk through warmer, drier conditions and longer fire seasons.
For nearby landowners and the general public, the burns represent routine state land management activities with no direct compliance obligations. The press release serves as advance public notice, with specific burn windows announced 24 hours in advance through DEM's social media channels and website. Local residents in affected communities should monitor official DEM communications for real-time burn status updates.
What to do next
- Monitor DEM social media and website for burn announcements
- Sign up for DEM press release notifications for timely updates
Archived snapshot
Apr 7, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Fighting Fire with Fire: DEM Resuming Prescribed Burns
Published on Monday, April 06, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Forest Fire Program plans to conduct low-severity prescribed burns on state lands in Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Richmond, Glocester, Jamestown, and South Kingstown. Weather permitting, the first prescribed burns of 2026 will begin this week. Prescribed (planned) burns depend on weather and wind conditions and are typically announced a day in advance. Prescribed burns help maintain healthy habitats and reduce hazardous fuels, protecting communities from extreme wildfires.
DEM will provide additional public notice through social media, website updates, and flyers to nearby landowners once a burn window has been identified. A burn window occurs when fuel, moisture, and weather conditions align to safely meet management goals, including fuel reduction, habitat improvement, and ecological restoration.
DEM burn managers are targeting parcels at Durfee Hill Management Area in Glocester, Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, Nicholas Farm Management Area in Coventry, Big River Management Area in West Greenwich, Dutch Island in Jamestown, Carolina Management Area in Richmond, and Great Swamp Management Area in South Kingstown.
Climate change is increasing wildfire risk by creating warmer, drier conditions, and longer fire seasons. In 2025, Rhode Island experienced 62 wildfires, and DEM’s Forest Fire Program conducted 12 prescribed burns treating more than 100 acres of state land. DEM continues shaded fuelbreak brush-clearing projects to reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires. By expanding its use of prescribed fire, DEM’s land management policies and practices are better aligned with neighboring states and strengthens regional ecological restoration and climate resilience.
Prescribed burns are led by experts from DEM’s Forest Fire Program and they will employ detailed operational and safety plans. Fire behavior, fuels, and weather are monitored throughout the burn, and if the prescription parameters are exceeded, the fire is shut down.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.
Date
Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:34
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