Fire Danger Is High Saturday In MD: National Weather Service

MARYLAND — Fire danger is running high Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The agency issued a hazardous weather outlook to alert Marylanders.

Fire danger means that fires will spread quickly and start easily. The combination of gusty winds and low humidity will heighten the fire danger Saturday in central Maryland, according to the National Weather Service.

"Humidity will drop below 30 percent across most of the region by this afternoon, with sustained winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts up to 30 mph," the agency said in a special weather statement Saturday morning.

"The combination of gusty winds and low humidity may allow small fires to rapidly grow if they escape control," officials said. "Anyone with outdoor plans involving fire should use extreme caution today." Sunday will not present as great a fire danger because winds will not be as strong.

During times of high fire danger, "grasses and needles will ignite readily" and "unattended campfires and brush fires are likely to escape," according to the U.S. Forest Service. "Fires can become serious and difficult to control unless they are put out while they are still small."

The hazardous weather outlook for fire danger applies to Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's and Washington counties in Maryland as well as northern and central Virginia, the District of Columbia and eastern West Virginia.

In recent weeks, a handful of brush fires around Maryland prompted firefighters to issue safety tips for the public.

Harford County saw a series of brush fires Monday afternoon from an unattended campfire, and crews also battled wildfires in Baltimore, Harford and York counties the weekend of Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.

"Keep a water source or other appropriate fire extinguishing means nearby during outdoor burning," the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company advised. "Always maintain a separation space between the burn area and other combustibles.

After battling brush fires in Dayton and Columbia Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services reminded people they should only discard their smoking materials in a sturdy ashtray.

About 96 percent of wildfires are caused by humans, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The leading cause of wildfires in Maryland is improper debris or outdoor burning (28 percent each year), followed by arson (23 percent), while other sources of ignition are smoking, campfires, downed power lines, discarded ashes, equipment use, fireworks, railroads and children playing with fire, according to officials.

During times of high fire danger, the forest service recommends the following:

• Postpone burning a debris pile.
• Don't put a campfire in a grassy area.
• Take extra precautions if using equipment that could produce sparks.
• Reconsider riding an off-highway vehicle in a grassy area.