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3/10/2025
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Rep. Cotter appointed to Northeastern Forest Fire Prevention Commission
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 STATE HOUSE – Rep. Megan L. Cotter has been appointed to the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission, a federally created commission that works to promote effective prevention and control of forest fires in the northeastern region of the United States and adjacent areas of Canada.
Representative Cotter will serve as the legislative representative for Rhode Island. The appointment was made last week by Gov. Daniel McKee.
The commission’s objectives include developing integrated forest fire plans, maintaining adequate forest fire fighting services by member agencies, providing for mutual aid in fighting forest fires and establishing a central agency to coordinate the services of the member agencies.
“I’m honored to join the Northeastern Forest Fire Protection Commission and be part of cooperative planning to address the dangers of forest fires with our neighboring states and provinces. As Rhode Islanders experienced in 2023 when our skies were filled with smoke from fires burning in Canada, fires affect us all, and they do not stop at borders,” said Representative Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton). “I’m very interested in meeting and collaborating with the leaders who do this work around the region, and look forward to learning what other states are doing that might help our efforts to strengthen forest management and fire prevention and protection in Rhode Island.”
Forest fire prevention and planning has been a primary focus for Representative Cotter since she was first elected in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, she sponsored and then chaired a legislative commission to help the state determine the best action for improving forest management. Her leadership and advocacy helped add funding in the 2025 state budget for additional forest rangers at DEM, and led to the addition of land conservation funding to the “green bond” approved by voters in November 2024.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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