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Spring 2026 Prescribed Burn Season Begins in Delaware

Spring prescribed burns support native species, curb invasives, and strengthen forest and grassland resilience across Delaware.

March 04, 2026 | Milton, Delaware

A small flame burns in a field where three people dressed in yellow fire gear monitor the burning.
Prescribed Burn at Middleford Prescribed burns are a proven way to restore our forests by improving habitats for native plants and animals and reducing the risk of out-of-control wildfires. © Natasha Whetzel/TNC

Media Contacts

  • Kathleen McFadden
    Media Relations Manager
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: k.mcfadden@tnc.org

The Spring 2026 prescribed fire season has begun in southern Delaware. From March 2 through April 30, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will conduct controlled burns at its Ponders Tract/Pemberton Forest Preserve and Edward H. McCabe Preserve in Sussex County, as well as Milford Neck Preserve in Kent County, intermittently during favorable weather conditions.

Safety First Highly trained fire practitioners and Burn Bosses take numerous steps to ensure the safety of fire staff and the public. © The Nature Conservancy

Residents are advised that smoke may be visible during certain prescribed fire days. TNC will communicate the timing of controlled burns as soon as possible via social media. Residents and media outlets should check TNC Delaware’s Facebook channel for the latest information.

Prescribed fire plays a critical role in the health of Delaware’s ecosystems and the well-being of nearby communities by reducing vegetation build-up and mitigating the risk for out-of-control wildfires. In coordination with its partner agencies, TNC uses prescribed fire to maintain the health and resilience of the First State’s forests and grasslands.

 

Controlled burning encourages growth of native vegetation, increases biodiversity, minimizes the spread of invasive species and recycles nutrients back into the soil.

Lori Brennan

Executive Director, TNC PA/DE
A field is full of vibrant new plant growth weeks after a controlled burn.
A field with trees in the distance shows charred areas on the ground after a controlled burn.
Regrowth at Hurley Tract Following a Prescribed Burn Immediately after a prescribed burn, Hurley Tract is thinned of invasive species and overgrowth. Just weeks later, healthy native plants and species grow at the same site. © Before image John Hinkson/TNC; After image Natasha Whetzel/TNC

Highly trained fire practitioners and burn bosses take numerous steps to ensure the safety of fire staff and the public by evaluating the type of vegetation within the burn area; establishing fire breaks and control lines; managing fire intensity and smoke; and providing personnel and equipment to supervise and control the fire all the way from spark to extinguishing.

Prior to a burn, TNC staff will notify the appropriate county Fire Board and coordinate with state forestry agencies and local officials around public awareness, staffing and resources. Weather conditions are carefully assessed the day of a prescribed burn. In the interest of public safety, burning does not take place if weather conditions are not conducive.

For more information, visit nature.org/Delaware.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.