To determine the initial effects of slash pile burning on chemical and physical properties in the Vassar soil series, mineral soil samples from two depths (2.5 cm and 12.5 cm) were collected before and after burning slash piles of four fuel loadings (0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m and 3 m) over wet and dry soils, as well as from burned and unburned litter plots. Surface soil CEC decreased with increasing fuel loads, reflecting the increased combustion of fuels, longer residence time of the fires, and increased fire severity with these heavier loads. Available nitrogen increased with increasing fuel loads as a result of the increased total quantity of mineralization of organic N from the heavier fuels. While some cations (magnesium and sodium) increased after burning, others, such as calcium, in general decreased.