“Due to the County’s current dry conditions, all outdoor burning is banned for an indefinite period of time in Worcester County,” Fire Marshal Matt Owens said. “This ban should reduce the number of out-of-control outside fires, which cause safety concerns for area residents, visitors, and especially responding fire personnel.”

The ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources, with these exceptions: proper use of gas and charcoal grills, campfires at the County’s commercial, state, and federal campgrounds, permitted official Ocean City bonfires, private property recreational campfires that are limited to a fire area of two feet with a height of three feet, public fireworks displays, and volunteer fire company training exercises.

The ban will remain in effect until the dry conditions dissipate.

“All existing outdoor burn permits have been rescinded,” Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell said. “Conditions are dry, and the latest maps from the drought monitor indicate conditions will worsen. We have extremely low precipitation totals, and the US drought monitor has the county under a moderate drought category.”

For more info., contact Fire Marshal Owens at 410-632-5666.