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Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401. 222. 4700 | www. dem. ri. gov | @RhodeIslandDEM CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEM. communications@ dem. ri. gov Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025 DEM RESUMING</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">CONTACT:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM.communications@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM RESUMING PRESCRIBED BURNS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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RI –<span style="color:black"> </span>The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">)
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">announces its plans to conduct low-severity prescribed burns on state lands on Prudence Island in Portsmouth, Exeter, West Greenwich, Coventry, Richmond, Glocester, Jamestown, and
South Kingstown. The first prescribed burn of 2025 will take place this week on Prudence Island, ahead of
<span style="color:#0066FF"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/forest-environment/forest-fire-program"><span style="color:#0066FF">DEM’s Forest Fire Program</span></a></span>’s spring prescribed fire season.
Typically, all prescribed burns are announced a day in advance due to weather and wind conditions<span style="color:black">. Prescribed, or planned, burning is a versatile tool that natural resources managers use for maintaining habitat diversity and to protect
communities from extreme fires by reducing hazardous natural fuels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">DEM will advise the public again once it has identified a more reliable “burn window” in which
to conduct a prescribed fire operation. The agency will further notify Rhode Islanders by timely social media posts and distributing flyers to abutting landowners and neighbors.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">A burn window refers to when the environmental variables such as fuel moisture and weather conditions
are balanced so that the fire will accomplish its goals, which include reducing fuels, modifying wildlife habitat, and restoring ecological function while remaining under control. DEM’s “go/no-go” decision on which of the burns to conduct is often determined
by wind speed and direction, to allow for the optimal dispersal of smoke. </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM burn managers are targeting parcels at Durfee Hill Management Area in Glocester, Pratt Farm in the Arcadia
Management Area, Nicholas Farm Management Area in Coventry, Big River Management Area in West Greenwich, Prudence Island, Dutch Island in Jamestown, Carolina Management Area in Richmond, and Great Swamp Management Area in South Kingstown.
<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
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Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Wildfires
are expected to become more frequent in Southern New England due to climate change. DEM is responding by
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/dem-announces-it-will-increase-use-prescribed-burns-2023-help-restore-native"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">increasing
the use of low-severity prescribed burns</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to reduce the build-up of combustible materials on forest floors and grasslands and by
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/events/registration-open-wildland-firefighter-training-6925-61325"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">offering specialized
wildfire training classes</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"> to build staff and volunteer capacity.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> In 2024, DEM
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/dem-poised-resume-prescribed-burns-coming-weeks-ahead-spring-fire-season-habitat"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">treated
130 acres of state property with prescribed fire</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">, nearly a threefold increase from 2023. In 2024, DEM conducted
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/press-releases/dem-announces-brush-clearing-project-lessen-threat-uncontrolled-wildfire-carolina"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">shaded
fuel break brush clearing projects</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> along various stretches of forestland on state lands to lessen the risk of uncontrolled wildfires. By increasing its use of prescribed
fire, Rhode Island is better aligning its land management policies and practices with neighboring states. Among other benefits, common ecological restoration goals with other states help to strengthen climate change resilience across southern New England.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Caption1" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">From burn to bloom: native pollinators and grassland habitat thrive at Pratt Farm following DEM’s prescribed
burns at this location.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Experts from
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/forest-environment/forest-fire-program"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM’s
Forest Fire Program</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">, a subsidiary of DEM’s
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF;background:white">Division of
Agriculture and Forest Environment</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">, leads the prescribed burns. They
<span style="color:#0A0A0A;background:#FEFEFE">will employ detailed operational and safety plans.
</span><span style="color:#141414">A prescribed burn plan developed by a qualified burn boss must be in place before a burn is conducted. Firebreaks and other site preparations are made. Fire behavior, fuels, and weather are monitored throughout the burn, and
if the prescription parameters are exceeded, the fire is shut down. Abutting landowners are notified of fire dates, reasons, and expectations for the burn season. DEM burn managers have obtained the required local permits and
</span>an exemption from state air pollution control regulation Part 4: Open Fires (</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/Part/250-120-05-4"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#3366FF">250-RICR-120-05-4</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">)</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
Managers also have communicated with the towns Fire Chiefs, <i><span style="color:black;background:white">Rhode Island Southern Firefighters<b>
</b>League,<b> </b></span></i>US Fish and Wildlife Service, DEM’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the DEM’s Office of Air Resources.<span style="color:black">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
Follow </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTD19ujmw$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">DEM on Facebook</span> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">,
Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTEqTF1gZ$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0066FF">Sign up here</span> [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><br>
Evan LaCross, MPA</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#1F4E79;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Programming Services Officer, Public Information Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:#004678;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">235 Promenade Street, Providence RI 02908</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">401-799-0100 (c)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">evan.lacross@dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:gray;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">(E);
</span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
(W)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/JKHsVOn/medialist__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTEqTF1gZ$">Sign up here [lp.constantcontactpages.com]</a></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#767171;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#0096D2;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Follow DEM on
</span></i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM/?fref=ts__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTHMAG5-8$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#004678">Facebook</span></i> [facebook.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">,<i><span style="color:#0096D2">
</span><span style="color:#00B0F0">on</span> </i></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.instagram.com/rhodeisland.dem/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTCMYZT5z$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002060">Instagram</span></i> [instagram.com]</a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">,</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
<span style="color:#00B0F0">and</span> <i><span style="color:#0096D2">on </span></i></span><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://twitter.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!MkLaD3_mGYlkjDhjHHTv37qulwT4FmlzxP_YiuShdSkz78ijcq_DP6uCR_XNHBOvVXbtXkY25FhwOYvBL6BblwdzuIbqTHeXl-xT$"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#004678">Twitter</span></i> [twitter.com]</a></span><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#0096D2;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">.</span></i><span style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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