PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island residents shouldn’t be alarmed if they spot fire on Dutch Island within the next month or so.
The state Department of Environmental Management is scheduled to conduct a one-day controlled burn on the 85-acre island, a state property located in Narragansett Bay between Jamestown and North Kingstown, within 30 to 45 days depending on weather and fuel conditions.
Habitat biologist John Veale said such a fire is a versatile tool to benefit wildlife because fire can reduce invasive plant communities, promote plant species diversity, stimulate new growth and increase understory for shelter and raising young.
This burn will also provide an opportunity for wildland firefighters to train during a controlled event, so they are prepared for emergency situations, the agency said.
The fire is not expected to harm wildlife. Fast-moving animals like deer and rabbits will easily be able to move away from the area, while slow-moving animals like reptiles and amphibians will still be resting in their winter hibernation locations, where they will be safe from the flames, DEM said.
The prescribed burn area does not include the rocky outcrop were the Dutch Island Lighthouse is located.
(Copyright (c) 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)