Baltimore Co. Fire Crews Respond to Multiple Acre Brush Fire

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Drought conditions fueled a large brush fire Thursday in Baltimore County.

A drought warning is in effect for Central Maryland.

The Baltimore County Fire Department reported the two-alarm brush fire in Randallstown, near Powells Run Rd., had spread to approximately six acres.

Firefighters said the flames spread quickly as a result of the dry, windy conditions. There are no fire hydrants nearby, so crews used a tanker truck operation.

Residents were told to avoid the area.

RELATED: Drought Warning Issued For Central Maryland

"Because it was burning as you can see all around my home. So that's scary," one resident said.

"By the time we got outside, it was a few meters from the house and we just grabbed what we could," Iran Harris said.

[Reporter: If this fire was not in a ravine, what would have happened?"]

"We would have lost proabably three to four occupancies back there, residential homes," said Lonnie Ledford of the Baltimore County Fire Department.

Meteorologist Tim Williams says there's no substantial rain in sight.

"It's no secret that we've had no snow, well if we've had no snow, then we've had no moisture in the ground, so that contributes to a lack of ground water, stream flow, and if there is no water, no moister, no snow, no rain, then we have a bit of a deficit," Williams said.

The Maryland Department of the Environment says this is serious business. Central Maryland is now under a drought warning, just one step away from the worse case scenario.

Leaders at the top say every Marylanders need to start conserving every drop.

"Praying for rain is not an established practice and it's not good enough. We need to be monitoring it and citizens can take simple steps by conserving water" said Ben Grumbles, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment.

If the situation gets worse mandatory water restrictions will take effect. It may include restrictions on washing your car or watering the lawn.

As for the brush fires, the battalion chief says they'll be out there till Friday morning.

Units from Carroll and Howard County also assisted.

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