Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced a statewide ban on open air burning, effective 2 P.M. today, March 31, in all counties except Garrett County.
Open air burning includes fires where any material is burned in the open or in a receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator, or other equipment connected to a stack or chimney. This includes leaf burning, campfires and charcoal grilling, but excludes the use of propane grills.
Extremely dry conditions, high winds and low relative humidity across the state have led to nearly triple the average number of wildfires statewide for this month, and conditions are not expected to change immediately.
Local volunteer fire departments in St. Mary’s County have already responded to at least three brush fires today.
The ban will remain in effect until the Maryland Forest Service determines sufficient precipitation has been received to reduce the threat of wildfires statewide.
“We do not make these determinations lightly, and understand this may require some people to adjust their plans,” said Secretary C. Ronald Franks. “However, a ban of this magnitude is necessary to protect the lives and property of Maryland citizens, as well as our natural resources.”
“By law, this is the only option available to us that will allow for the statewide monitoring and enforcement this very dangerous situation requires,” Franks continued. “We will be monitoring the situation daily to determine when it is safe to lift these restrictions.”
Five Maryland counties – Cecil, Frederick, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester – already have local restrictions in place, and state officials are working with local jurisdictions to monitor conditions and enforcement.
Outdoor fire restrictions are also in place for the entire State of Delaware and several Virginia counties.
The current statute covering actions of this type was enacted in 1989. The provision authorizes the Department, at the recommendation of the Maryland Forest Service, to implement such a ban when landscape and weather conditions warrant.
“By law the statute does ban campfires and charcoal grilling, but permits the use of propane grills,” said State Forester Steve Koehn. “While fines may be imposed for violations, the most important result of a ban of this type is that it communicates to the public the severity of the situation, and the critical need to act responsibly to protect lives, property and our environment.”
Maryland Forest Service officials made the recommendation to implement the ban based on the following data:
– Since March 1, the Forest Service has responded to 366 wildfires, near triple the 20-year average of 130 wildfires for the month.
– There has been a corresponding increase in the size of the fires. While fires normally burn less than one acre per fire at this time of year, the average for the past month has been over two acres.
– There has been an increase in the number of National Weather Service (NWS) Red Flag Warning alerts this month for increased fire danger due to low relative humidity, high winds and low fuel moisture content of forest fuels.
– The state has received less than 25% of the average precipitation for March,