Prescribed Burns Planned at Two Maryland Wildlife Refuges From October 2026 Through April 2027
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in Cambridge, Maryland, on October 29 that it will work with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service to conduct several multi-acre prescribed fires at Blackwater and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuges from October 2026 to April 2027, conditions permitting.
Closures of public areas may occur during prescribed fire operations to ensure public safety, the Service said, and any impacted areas will reopen when the burn is complete and it is safe to re-enter. During operations, residents may see firefighters and equipment along roads and waterways, as well as airboats and unmanned aircraft systems used to ignite, monitor and observe fire activity.
Smoke may be visible during and after the burns and can affect visibility and air quality. Fire managers will monitor smoke conditions and conduct the burns under conditions intended to minimize smoke impacts to local communities.
The prescribed fires are part of the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex's ongoing land management program, planned to reduce hazardous fuel loads in forests and marshlands while improving wildlife habitat. The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service in cooperation with the Maryland Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. The public contact is Jim Helstowski, prescribed fire specialist, at 443-972-3124. (Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：马里兰州 Blackwater 国家野生动物保护区的沼泽水面。Jcantroot 摄，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Marsh waters at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. By Jcantroot, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
