Hikers, Take Note: Controlled Burn Taking Place at Mohawk State Forest

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection plans to implement a controlled burn on 2.7 acres of Mohawk State Forest, Goshen and Cornwall, on the summit of Mohawk Mountain — Wednesday, weather permitting, or later this week — to help maintain an open vista for visitors at the top of the mountain.

“Mohawk State Forest is a popular hiking area and its peak is known for its beautiful views of the countryside,” said Christopher Martin, Director of Forestry, in a DEEP press release. “A controlled burn will eliminate resprouting vegetation and consume dead organic matter on this steep, rocky area, which could fuel a wildfire. An added benefit is that use of fire reduces the need for chemical herbicide to control vegetation.”

The forest road (Toumey Road) accessing the popular mountaintop overlook, as well as Mattatuck Trail, a Blue-blazed Trail, will be temporarily closed during the burn. The fire will only be ignited on good air quality days for best smoke dispersion.

Background Information

The burn will likely take a portion of one day and will be accomplished by DEEP forestry personnel utilizing “drip torches” to light the fire from cleared trails, green grasses and the paved road system that surrounds the areas, as control lines or “firebreaks.” A suppression crew will be on site with handtools and backpack water pumps for control, as well as DEEP Fire Control vehicles equipped with water and pumps, and a mobile UTV (a utility ATV) with a water tank that can drive into the brush when needed and help with containment.

Two separate sites, approximately one acre each, one on the north slope and one on the south slope of the summit will be burned separately. A second area will not be ignited until the first is completed and extinguished.

The DEEP plans and administers a number of controlled burns annually for various purposes, including maintaining grassland and shrubland habitat for species in decline in Connecticut from a loss of farmland and early successional habitat. Fire can also assist in maintaining pitch pine sand plain forest (which is one of the most imperiled ecosystems in the state), and to assist with forestry objectives such as oak regeneration, which is disturbance-dependent. Controlled burning is a valuable tool to natural resource managers to maintain habitat and vegetative diversity.