© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Snapshots Of A Controlled Burn On Connecticut's Coast

 FILE, 2019: A forester at Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown keeps an eye on the perimeter of a controlled burn at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.
Patrick Skahill
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Dan Evans is a forester at Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown. Along with a treaded vehicle called a "bombardier," Evans' job is to "hold" the fire. He watches closely to maintain established perimeter lines as seven acres of grass at Harkness burns.

Recently, part of Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford caught fire.

But this shoreline blaze wasn’t a disaster.

It was actually a carefully-planned “burn” aimed at preserving what’s been called the “last remnant” of eastern prairie in Connecticut.

Before fifteen acres are set to flame, workers scorch ground, creating a blackened “safe zone” to contain the fire.

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Each member of the crew has a specific role. Bruce Villwock, district fire warden, hauls a hose used to wet down land adjacent to the planned blaze.

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Working with Villwock is Joe Burnham, seasonal fire control staff and a full-time Mansfield firefighter. Today, Burnham is in charge of the site’s water tanker, aptly named “Burnham.”  

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Rich Schenk is the burn’s safety officer. He’s one of three people today who will be “in the flames,” working the radio and making sure the burn goes according to its detailed plan. “I’ve been doing it for thirty something years,” Schenk said. “In Connecticut and I travel nationally.”

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Villwock and Burnham reel in the hose.

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Two torches rest on the tailgate of a truck. For wildlife biologist Jane Seymour, this is her second burn. “One reason that we use the fire to manage wildlife habitat is to keep it at that early stage,” Seymour said. “We’re trying to save the last remnants of these grassland habitats for the species that depend on them.”

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

For today’s burn, the crew is 14 people: one biologist, four foresters, five fire control staff, and four park staffers. “The purpose of this burn is to maintain the fields and native grasses,” said Helene Hochholzer, the state’s forest protection supervisor. “While providing habitat for some of the grassland birds.”

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Forester Emery Gluck is today’s “burn boss.” Before Gluck sets torch to grass, he warns his crew about the dangers of fire, even in a controlled setting. “These flames will probably go between a few feet in the tall grass,” Gluck said, “to well over ten-fifteen feet with a head fire. And burn very fast.”

Credit Patrick Skahill / Connecticut Public Radio
/
Connecticut Public Radio

Patrick Skahill is a reporter and digital editor at Connecticut Public. Prior to becoming a reporter, he was the founding producer of Connecticut Public Radio's The Colin McEnroe Show, which began in 2009. Patrick's reporting has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered. He has also reported for the Marketplace Morning Report. He can be reached at pskahill@ctpublic.org.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Related Content