A new state wildfire report says deliberately set fires sent Maryland’s burned acreage soaring in 2025. While the number of wildland fires stayed roughly the same, the area those blazes consumed nearly doubled. Most of the extra acreage came from a string of arson-related blazes on the Eastern Shore, where marshes and low-lying fields burned hard.
According to the Maryland Forest Service’s 2025 Annual Wildland Fire Report, Maryland recorded 172 wildland fires that burned 8,166.7 acres in 2025, compared with about 953 acres burned in 2024. The report says arson caused 19 fires that together burned 6,611.9 acres, debris burning sparked 74 fires totaling roughly 152 acres, and state and partner agencies carried out 150 prescribed burns covering about 7,417.8 acres.
“March 2025 was characterized by a continuation of exceptionally warm conditions, contributing to a record-setting warm period nationally,” Maryland Forest Service state fire supervisor Chris Robertson said in a press release via the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Officials say those warm, dry late winter conditions helped small ignitions spread quickly into larger incidents on the Eastern Shore.
Where the damage fell
The Eastern region accounted for the lion’s share of last year’s acreage, with roughly 7,855 acres burned, much of it marsh and non-forest land that smoldered for long periods. That concentration left the Eastern Shore and Dorchester County particularly vulnerable to repeated flare-ups and lengthy suppression efforts.
Prescribed burns and prevention
State foresters point to prescribed fire as a key mitigation tool. In 2025, the Maryland Forest Service and partners completed 150 controlled burns covering about 7,417.8 acres, primarily on the Eastern Shore. The agency has urged residents to compost rather than burn yard debris and to fully extinguish camp or backyard fires to reduce human-caused starts, as reported by the Southern Maryland Chronicle.
What residents should do
The report is a reminder that many wildfires in Maryland begin small but can grow fast under the right weather and fuel conditions. Residents near woods and marshes are urged to follow Firewise guidance, clear defensible space, keep flammable material away from structures, and report any smoke or escaped burn piles to local authorities immediately. In other words, if something looks like it is burning where it should not be, call it in before a small problem turns into a multi-acre headline.
