Statewide Burning Ban Lifted in Three Additional Counties

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ANNAPOLIS — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has lifted the statewide ban on open air burning in three more jurisdictions in Maryland due to recent rainfall and projected wildfire conditions. The ban that was implemented on March 31 has been lifted in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties effective 2 p.m. on April 18.

The ban remains in effect in Allegany, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico and Worcester counties. These counties continue to experience lower than normal rainfall and therefore are at a higher risk for large wildfire occurrence. Given the extended fire weather forecast calls for above normal temperatures and significant drying conditions over the next few days, the ban will remain in effect in these counties until sufficient precipitation has been received.

The ban was lifted last week in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City.

Garrett County was not included in the original ban.

More information on the statewide open-air burning ban can be found at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/infocus/fire_danger.asp.

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April 18, 2006

The 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