ONE-DAY CONTROLLED BURN PLANNED ON DUTCH
ISLAND TO BENEFIT NATIVE SPECIES AND HABITATS

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is scheduled to conduct a one-day prescribed burn on part of Dutch Island, a state property located in Narragansett Bay between Jamestown and North Kingstown, at some point in the next 30 to 45 days. The exact timing of the burn, to be led by DEM’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and Agriculture and Forest Environment, depends on specific fuel and weather conditions. 

The controlled height of the flames will be about 2-4 feet and is dependent on the fuel load. All kinds of plant material can act as fuel including grasses, shrubs, trees, dead leaves, etc. No area on Dutch Island during the burn will be fully enclosed by flames for safety. A controlled burn requires a clear day with sustained winds out of a specific direction to ensure some level of predictability and to disperse smoke. DEM will further advise the public when it has determined a burn window within which the exact date of the burn can be ascertained.