Attention, hikers: Virginia, Maryland could see more wildfires this fall
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
Virginia and Maryland's fall fire season could be particularly active this year due to summer's extreme heat and drought, forest officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Fall is prime time for camping, hiking and leaf peeping in the parks surrounding the DMV, all of which could be impacted should more forest fires occur this season.
- And it's possible that smoke from such fires could affect people in the Washington region, officials say.
The big picture: Despite rain from Hurricane Helene, the region continues to be "abnormally dry," says Shannon Wolfe, a fire manager with Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Forest Service.
- This comes after the D.C. area saw drought warnings and record-breaking temperatures this summer, which has caused leaves to turn early.
- Because of this, they'll likely fall sooner and create leaf litter — a major instigator of forest fires, says Michael Downey, who works in wildfire mitigation for the Virginia Department of Forestry.
- It could also dull and shorten our fall foliage season.
Threat level: Droughts can impact the scope of fires by making the ground drier, meaning this year's fires could burn deep into the soil and be harder to extinguish, says Wolfe.
- Wind can also affect fire activity by quickly changing its intensity or direction.
- "If you get those low humidity days and warm temperatures in the fall and then a wind event, that's kind of the perfect storm for fire behavior and wildfires to grow," Wolfe tells Axios.
Context: Fall fire season typically kicks off in the middle of October and runs through November or early December, says Downey.
The intrigue: If the region continues to see drought and extreme temperatures going forward, a separate spring and fall fire season could become one continuous season, per Downey.
Between the lines: During last spring fire season, Virginia saw the most acreage burned in 30 years amid dry and windy conditions.
- And last year's Quaker Run Fire affected almost 4,000 acres and caused trails to close.
Yes, but: Rain could help alleviate the potential wildfire impacts of such a dry and hot summer, say officials.
To know: Officials recommend checking the weather forecast to make sure you aren't lighting a campfire or debris-burning fire on dry or windy days.
- Also important: Keep water, dirt or sand nearby to extinguish the fire if necessary, and never leave a fire unattended.
Plus: Check the National Parks Service's site for fire-related closures and alerts before heading out.