Two mountain fires split regional fire units in two directions in Western Maryland on Sunday, October 27. According to Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Company, Washington County ECC received multiple 911 calls after 12:30 p.m. reporting a possible mountain fire northwest of Clear Spring.
Numerous Clear Spring units and personnel responded to the scene to find a multi-acre mountain fire in the Mooresville Road area.
Clear Spring officials said their firefighters and personnel from multiple surrounding jurisdictions operated on scene for approximately six hours. Units included personnel from Morgan County, Washington County, Allegany County and Pennsylvania companies as well.
“Due to the darkness in the evening, firefighters exited the mountain with the majority of the fire contained,” said Clear Spring fire officials.
Maryland State DNR remained in the area overnight for fire watch, said fire officials, and fire personnel returned on Monday to assess the scene and discuss ongoing operations.
An additional fire on Western Pike west of the Old Route 40 scenic overlook area burned on Sunday. The fire was reported on McFarland Road and drew responders from around the region. No additional information about the size of that fire was available at press time.
Following the two fires, Washington County’s Office of Emergency Management announced a strong advisory against outdoor burning due to elevated fire risk conditions. The combination of low relative humidity and dry vegetation increases the potential for rapid fire spread, which could lead to challenging and hazardous conditions for containment.
On Monday afternoon, relative humidity values were expected to drop between 20 and 30 percent across the area, coupled with light winds from the east to northeast at 5 to 10 mph, shifting to southeast later in the day.
With temperatures in the low to mid-60s and clear skies, vegetation is exceptionally dry and could easily fuel fires.
Key Precautions:
—Avoid Outdoor Burning: Residents are advised to avoid all forms of outdoor burning during these conditions.
—Safely Dispose of Ignition Sources: Properly extinguish any potential ignition sources, including cigarette butts and hot equipment parts, to prevent accidental fires.
Washington County residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and prioritize safety by avoiding activities that could inadvertently spark a fire.