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Dry Conditions Spark an Increase in Wildfires Across Maryland
On average the DNR Forest Service responds to 29 wildfires during the entire month of September; in the past week alone they have responded to 24 wildfires that burned more than 68 acres of forest and fields. Warm, dry conditions, high winds, low relative humidity, and lack of rainfall are all contributing factors. While open-air burning is legal in parts of Maryland, DNR is strongly encouraging homeowners not to do any outdoor burning until the state receives significant steady rainfall of one inch or more.
September 29, 2005The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 18,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov