Wildland Fire Management

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Wildfire Prevention and Burning Guidance
Fire Operations and Response
Local Fire Department Support
Wildfire Statistics
Program History

Overview

Wildfire in Maryland is frequent, largely human-caused, and concentrated in the spring and fall fire seasons. Each year, the Maryland Forest Service responds to hundreds of fires, most of which are contained quickly through coordination with local fire departments.

The Wildland Fire Management program is responsible for preventing, preparing for, and responding to these fires, while also using prescribed fire to maintain healthy forest conditions. The program emphasizes clear burning regulations, public awareness, and sustained readiness across agencies to reduce risk and limit impacts to communities and forest resources.

Maryland's approach is built on coordination. Local fire departments handle most initial response, supported by state personnel who provide training, equipment, and technical expertise. For larger or more complex incidents, resources are coordinated across jurisdictions and, when needed, through the Mid-Atlantic Forest Fire Compact to support response beyond state lines.

Fire Activity in Maryland

Wildfire activity in Maryland peaks during the spring and fall, when the absence of leaf cover allows sunlight and wind to reach and dry the forest floor. Low humidity and dormant vegetation during these seasons increase both the likelihood of ignition and the rate of spread.

Ninety-six percent of wildfires in Maryland are caused by human activity. Debris burning is the leading cause, accounting for approximately 35% of ignitions. Arson is the second leading cause, accounting for roughly 30%. Other sources include equipment use, campfires, smoking, and railroads. Lightning accounts for the remaining 4%.

Most wildfires in Maryland are surface fires, burning fallen leaves, twigs, and debris on the forest floor. During dry periods, fire can penetrate the duff layer beneath that debris and burn underground for weeks or months, making full suppression difficult. Fire intensity increases significantly in areas with dense fine fuels such as grasses or resinous vegetation such as mountain laurel and evergreen stands. Crown fires are rare in Maryland but can occur in dense evergreen stands during periods of extreme heat and low humidity.

Wildfire risk is elevated in areas where residential development meets or intermingles with forest and other wildland vegetation, commonly referred to as the wildland-urban interface. The number of homes built in these areas has increased significantly in recent years, and because most ignitions are human-caused, these zones present heightened risk to lives, structures, and natural resources.

In an average year, the Maryland Forest Service responds to approximately 123 wildfires burning more than 1,780 acres. Local fire departments respond to more than 5,000 outdoor fire incidents annually. Most fires are small, but even fires of limited size can threaten homes, structures, and natural resources. Additional data, including annual totals and trends, is available on the Fire Statistics page.

History and Legacy

Maryland's wildland fire program has operated for more than a century, evolving from a network of volunteer Forest Wardens and hand tools to a coordinated statewide system integrating modern detection, specialized equipment, and prescribed fire. Fire towers once served as the primary means of locating wildfires across the state's forested regions, and their development and eventual decline tracks the broader modernization of the program.

Over time, the program expanded beyond suppression to include prevention, public education, and the strategic use of prescribed fire to manage vegetation and reduce long-term risk. Today, these functions operate as a single coordinated system supported by interagency partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels.

A full history of Maryland's wildland fire program, including the development of detection systems and fire towers, is available on the Program History page.

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