Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Maine Maritime Academy Launch Wildfire Risk Reduction & Leadership Collaboration at Witherle Woods
Castine, ME – Sept. 2, 2025 – In response to ongoing concerns about unpermitted fires and the associated wildfire risks in Witherle Woods, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) and Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) have formed a landmark partnership to promote public safety, environmental stewardship, and student leadership.
This fall, up to 200 members of MMA’s incoming Regimental class will participate in a half-day wildfire risk mitigation event focused on reducing fuels and enhancing the firebreak in the southeastern section of Witherle Woods. The event, set for Saturday, September 13, also serves as a unique leadership and team-building opportunity for the students, each organized into crews with cadet captains trained by MCHT staff.
“With the increasing threat of wildfires in Maine, especially in beloved community preserves like Witherle Woods, this collaboration comes at a crucial time,” said Mike Kersula, MCHT’s regional stewardship manager. “The risk from a potential wildfire in Witherle Woods has been top of mind for many folks in the Castine community as we have witnessed changes in the forest and increasingly long and deep droughts.”
Kersula added, “This is an exciting model of proactive stewardship, education, and service, and we are very grateful for the chance to collaborate with MMA, the Castine Fire Department, and Maine Forest Service to make this happen.”
Planning began in early 2025, when MCHT and MMA staff joined forces to create a field-based initiative that would both address fire risks and serve as a training ground for future leaders. MCHT has worked to prepare the firebreak zone in the months prior to the collaborative workday—demonstrating best practices in forest thinning, species retention, and trail-edge expansion. Student captains will receive training to lead their crews through mapped and delineated plots along the firebreak corridor.
Witherle Woods, a 193-acre preserve owned and managed by MCHT, features a coastal forest ecosystem, historic landmarks, and over 4.3 miles of trails. The upcoming workday offers a unique chance for MMA’s freshman class to contribute to the stewardship of their new home in Castine—practicing fire-resilient forest management that benefits both the land and the wider community.
The event, which is not open to the public, will culminate in a luncheon for MMA students in the center of Witherle Woods. The luncheon will offer a moment of celebration and reflection on the students’ efforts and the shared commitment of MCHT, MMA, the Castine Fire Department, and Maine Forest Service to taking care of the forest and the community.
About Maine Maritime Academy
MMA is a public college in Castine dedicated to rigorous academics, hands-on training, and developing leaders for careers in the maritime industry and beyond. The Regimental program instills leadership, service, and responsibility from the start of each student’s journey.
About Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) advances the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological wellbeing and foster thriving communities. Since 1970, we have worked to guide the conservation movement and support a network of more than 80 land trusts. Together with partners, we’ve protected over 190,000 acres, supporting the needs of people, plants, animals, and ecosystems across the coast. We’re dedicated to ensuring that our natural areas can mitigate the effects of climate change and support all people and life for generations to come. Learn more about our work and get involved at www.mcht.org.