Press Releases
03/12/2026
DEEP to Conduct Prescribed Burns at Nine Locations This Spring
Prescribed Burning Is a Valuable Tool for Conserving Rare Habitats, Plant Diversity, and Native Wildlife Species
(HARTFORD) — The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) plans to conduct prescribed (controlled) burns at nine locations this spring, weather and conditions permitting. The areas include Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in Stonington, James L. Goodwin State Forest in Hampton, Mansfield Hollow State Park in Mansfield, Matianuck Natural Area Preserve in Windsor, Nehantic State Forest in Lyme, Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area in Plainfield, Tunxis State Forest in West Hartland, and Windsor Wildlife Management Area in Windsor.
Prescribed burns are an important land management practice that DEEP uses annually for various purposes. Controlled burning is a valuable tool for maintaining healthy habitats and diverse vegetation. For example, it helps maintain rare grassland and pitch pine sand plain forest habitats that support rare and threatened species and can assist with forestry objectives such as oak regeneration. Controlled burns also reduce available fire fuels, thus reducing the risk of damage should uncontrolled wildfire occur.
Connecticut has abundant forest habitat (roughly 60% of the state is forested per the 2020 DEEP CT Forest Action Plan) that is generally between 90 and 130 years old. Grassland habitat, on the other hand, is limited because many former farm fields have either been developed or have naturally grown back into forest. Controlled burning is an effective way to maintain grasslands and support a wide variety of wildlife, including many Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Historically, Indigenous peoples used fire to shape the landscape. These burns helped encourage nut-producing trees like oaks and hickories, improve berry-producing plants, and keep open grassy areas for hunting, farming, and gathering food.
The prescribed burns will be led by the DEEP Forestry Division, with help from trained staff in DEEP’s Wildlife, State Parks, and Support Services divisions. Each burn will follow a detailed plan designed to ensure safety and effectiveness. Local officials and fire departments will be notified in advance. Burn areas will be closed on burn days and warning signs will be posted. The public may see or smell smoke during the operation.
“In addition to providing significant benefits for wildlife habitat and wildfire fuel reduction, prescribed burns offer outstanding training opportunities for DEEP’s wildfire firefighters who help protect Connecticut’s communities and natural resources. Exercises like these strengthen coordination, sharpen critical skills, and ensure our crews are fully prepared to respond to wildfires such as the Hawthorne wildfire in 2024 — one of the worst in Connecticut’s history,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “DEEP also has proposed legislation in 2026 to strengthen our state’s wildfire preparedness and response capabilities. We appreciate the General Assembly raising House Bill No. 5152 and advancing it through the Environment Committee. We look forward to continuing to work together on this important legislation.”
Exact burn dates depend on weather and site conditions. Conditions will be carefully monitored, and a final decision on whether to proceed will be made on the day of the burn. The prescribed burns DEEP plans to conduct this year (exact dates dependent on weather and conditions) include:
Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington (10 acres)
The main goal of this prescribed burn is to lower the risk of wildfires by reducing the amount of burnable vegetation in the area. A second goal is to help limit the spread of invasive plants. This site is a good place for a controlled burn because it is bordered on three sides by natural or existing barriers, including Palmer Neck Road, the Barn Island parking lot, and Little Narragansett Bay. These features help contain the fire safely.
The area also was chosen because the vegetation found here is similar to that in other coastal areas of southeastern Connecticut. This burn will help us see how fire affects these types of landscapes and will guide future burns in similar places. Based on how the area recovers after the burn, it may be burned again every 2 to 10 years to maintain desired conditions.
James L. Goodwin State Forest, Hampton (12 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to restore and maintain healthy grassland habitat. Three former fields will be burned to help renew the grassland and reduce the spread of invasive plants such as Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, and autumn olive. In addition to improving habitat, these burns will create a demonstration area at the Goodwin Conservation Center for educational purposes and will provide hands-on wildfire response training for DEEP staff and local fire departments.
Mansfield Hollow State Park, Mansfield (8 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to maintain and improve dry grassland habitat, which is a rare type of habitat that many wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need depend on. Using controlled fire is a proven way to keep this habitat healthy and suitable for the plants and wildlife that rely on it. At this site, the main goal is to improve habitat for the frosted elfin, a state-listed butterfly.
Matianuck Natural Area Preserve, Windsor (3.5 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to maintain and improve inland sand barren habitat, which is a rare and declining habitat type in Connecticut. Many wildlife species depend on this kind of habitat to survive and reproduce. The use of controlled fire helps encourage native warm-season grasses and creates areas of open, bare sand. These open sandy areas are especially important for certain insects and other small animals that are a conservation priority.
Nehantic State Forest, Lyme (18 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to restore oak savanna, a type of forest that was common before European settlement and was historically maintained by regular fires set by Indigenous peoples. Oak savannas are open forests with scattered oak trees and a ground layer of grasses and wildflowers. This habitat depends on fire to persist. Controlled burns will be carried out every 2 to 5 years to maintain the oak savanna habitat. As long as prescribed fire is used regularly, no timber harvesting will take place in this area.
Pachaug State Forest, Voluntown (27 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to help protect and strengthen pitch pine–scrub oak sandplain habitat, which is rare and at risk. The burn will slow the growth of white pine and other trees that compete with pitch pine and other rare plants. Fire also will reduce thick undergrowth and fallen woody material, making it easier for young pitch pine and scrub oak to grow. The overall goal is to maintain healthy shrubland and open woodland habitat that supports rare wildlife species.
Quinebaug River Wildlife Management Area, Plainfield (27.5 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to maintain and improve sandplain grassland and pitch pine barren habitat. These are rare habitat types in Connecticut and are important for many wildlife species that need special conservation attention. Using controlled fire is an effective way to help these special habitats to persist on the landscape.
Tunxis State Forest, Hartland (19 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to maintain grassland habitat for the bobolink, a bird Species of Special Concern in Connecticut. The burn will help keep native grasses healthy and growing, which supports bobolinks and other wildlife that depend on open grasslands. This type of habitat has become increasingly rare in Connecticut as grasslands and farmland are lost to development or gradually grow back into forest.
Windsor Wildlife Management Area, Windsor (45 acres)
The purpose of this prescribed burn is to maintain and improve sandplain grassland habitat, which is a rare habitat type that many wildlife species depend on to survive and reproduce. Over time, the burn is expected to increase native warm-season grasses, create more areas of open soil, and reduce the number of woody plants and other non-grass vegetation.
Questions about DEEP’s prescribed burns can be directed to the DEEP Forestry Division at DEEP.Forestry@ct.gov or 860-424-3630.- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
- Facebook: DEEP on Facebook
Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110