In 2024, Maryland experienced a higher number of wildfires compared to the ten-year average, but the acreage burned was significantly lower. According to the Maryland Forest Service’s Annual Wildland Fire Report, 165 fires burned 953.4 acres during the year, compared to 199 wildfires in 2023 that burned approximately 4,483 acres. Debris burning was the most common cause of wildfires in Maryland, while arson was the most damaging, causing 33 wildfires and 668 acres of damage. Despite an extended dry spell in October and November 2024, suppression efforts by Forest Service firefighters and partners, along with a three-week outdoor burning ban in November, helped keep fires relatively small.
State Fire Supervisor Chris Robertson emphasized the importance of increased vigilance as Maryland transitions into the spring wildfire season. Residents are reminded to take preventive measures such as composting instead of burning yard debris and using ‘Firewise’ techniques to protect their properties from wildfires. The Maryland Forest Service is also expanding its use of prescribed burns to reduce wildfire risk on susceptible land. In 2024, 87 prescribed burns covering approximately 8,201 acres were conducted by the Maryland Forest Service and partner organizations.
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