Anne Arundel County Issues Burning Ban

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Anne Arundel County officials have issued a ban on open burning, effective immediately.

As a result, the Anne Arundel County Health Department has ceased issuing Open Burn Permits and all previously issued Open Burn Permits are suspended until further notice. In addition, all recreational burning such as camp fires and the use of outdoor fireplaces are also included in this open burning ban. Warm spring temperatures, low humidity and dry conditions create dry vegetation that can result in brush fires that burn and spread quickly. This week, county firefighters have responded to more than 115 brush fires in the county.

"Brush fires in our area are rarely attributed to natural causes and these steps are necessary to help avoid such fires," said Fire Chief John Robert Ray.

County residents are also being asked to exercise extreme caution and take the appropriate steps to avoid accidentally starting such fires:

Ensure that matches and smoking materials are disposed of properly
Exercise caution when using grills or other cooking equipment outside
Take the appropriate steps to prevent fire spread when working with tools that have open flames or produce sparks.
Keep matches and lighters out of the hands of children