10-03-2025
Washington County, Maryland, lifts burn ban, but officials urge residents to use caution
Washington County's Office of Emergency Management has lifted the countywide burn ban as of 8 a.m. Monday, March 10.
County officials announced last Friday afternoon the burn ban would be lifted, the same afternoon about 10.5 acres of woodland and a shed were burned in the Clear Spring area due to an equipment fire, according to the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.
The burn ban was put in place a week earlier due to heightened fire danger and in the wake of several outdoor fires.
Recent rain and increased humidity have improved conditions, according to a county news release about the burn ban being lifted.
However, county officials are asking residents to "remain vigilant and take necessary precautions when conducting outdoor burning activities," the release states.
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"We appreciate the cooperation of our residents and businesses during this burn ban," said Alan Matheny, the county's emergency management director, in the release. "Your efforts have helped protect lives and property, and we encourage continued fire safety awareness."
County officials remind residents to adhere to local and state fire regulations and use caution when doing any outdoor burning.
Best practices the county provided for outdoor burning are:
Never leave fires unattended
Keep a water source nearby
If the wind is blowing, don't burn
Ensure fires are fully extinguished before leaving the area
The burn ban was lifted by order of the county commissioners.
Windy conditions persisted through the weekend, with winds reaching over 35 mph multiple times on Saturday and around 30 mph on Sunday, according to local weather observer Greg Keefer's website at
The next chance for rain in the Hagerstown area is Saturday and there is an 80% chance of showers on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service's online forecast.
Among the wildfires to occur during the burn ban, was a fire that started early Friday afternoon west of Clear Spring after the owner of a backhoe turned it on to let it warm up and went into the residence, according to the state fire marshal's office.
When the owner returned, he saw the backhoe on fire and went back into the home to get a phone to call 911, according to a news release from the fire marshal's office.
The fire spread, burning a nearby shed and about 10.5 acres of woodland. The estimated loss of the shed was $20,000, including contents valued at $10,000, the release states.
Thirty-one firefighters responded to the fire, which took about 2 1/2 hours to get under control, the release states.
The fire, ruled accidental, originated in the backhoe's engine compartment.
The Clear Spring Volunteer Fire Co. was the primary responder to the fire in the 11400 block of National Pike.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County, Maryland, lifts burn ban
