On Friday, November 1, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources implemented a statewide ban on open air burning in all Maryland counties.
West Virginia governor Jim Justice issued his state’s burn ban on Monday, November 4.
Extremely dry conditions persist across both states and have led to an above average number of wildfires statewide, state officials said. Conditions are not expected to change in the near future.
Maryland’s ban will remain in effect until the Maryland Forest Service determines the state has received enough precipitation to reduce the threat of wildfires statewide.
In Maryland, open-air burning such as campfires as well as charcoal grilling are not permitted under the burn ban, but state law does permit the use of propane grills.
The law defines open-air burning as a fire 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.
“We do not make these determinations lightly and understand this may require some people to adjust their plans,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “However, a ban of this magnitude is necessary to protect the lives and property of Maryland residents and visitors, as well as the state’s natural resources. Given the significant risk, this is the only option available to us that will allow for statewide monitoring and enforcement to prevent wildfires due to the dangerous conditions. We will be monitoring the wildfire risk daily to determine when it is safe to lift these restrictions.”
Cecil and Washington counties in Maryland previously advised residents to avoid having outdoor fires earlier this week.
Outdoor fire restrictions are also in place for the entire State of Delaware and several Pennsylvania counties as well as West Virginia. In most areas of Maryland and West Virginia, trees have dropped a significant portion of their leaves, contributing to the ongoing fire risk.
On Friday, the National Weather Service put in place Red Flag Warnings–indicating a high risk of wildfires due to dry, windy weather conditions–across this region.
Authorized agents of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and all police officers that enforce state laws may enforce the restrictions. The fine for a first citation for violating the ban is $125.
West Virginia ban
In West Virginia, the ban makes it unlawful for any person in the state to engage in outdoor burning, including fires built for camping, the burning of debris or warming.
The following items are excluded from the restrictions:
Fires for the purpose of chemical production, where fire is essential to operation.
Fires for commercial land-clearing, such as mining, highway construction, and development: Provided, that a permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
Training fires conducted under the direct control and supervision of qualified instructors at a training facility operated by a fire department or government entity: Provided, that a permit for such training fires is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to burning.
Fires for outdoor cooking conducted for fund-raising events and charitable organizations: Provided, that a water source capable of extinguishing the fire must be present and a permit is obtained from the Division of Forestry prior to the operation.
Liquid fueled gas grills, lanterns or liquid-fueled gas fire stoves.
West Virginia’s proclamation orders the Division of Forestry and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to provide continuous information to the Governor and the public regarding forest conditions.
The Division of Natural Resources, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Police will cooperate in the enforcement of the ban, which remains in place until further notice.
Since October 1, the Maryland Forest Service has responded to more than 24 wildfires that have burned 75 acres, more than triple the 10-year average of 7 wildfires burning 21 acres for the month.
Forest Service firefighters and partner agencies, including those from West Virginia, were containing active fires in Washington, Frederick, Anne Arundel, and Worcester counties late last week.
Maryland has received less than 25% of the average precipitation for October, with much of the state receiving little or no precipitation with the exception of Garrett and Allegany counties. Those two counties have received less than 50% of the monthly average.
All of West Virginia’s counties were under drought conditions for the majority of the summer, and many are still under moderate to extreme drought classifications today as rainfall remains well below normal levels.
