Maryland Forest Service Battles Spike in Wild Fires

The Maryland Forest Service has battled more than a dozen wild fires since Sept. 1 that have spread easily due to drought conditions.

On Friday, the forest service was working to contain two fires on the Eastern Shore. A 12-acre blaze in the woods and fields near Cordova was the largest. Investigators believe it was ignited Thursday by a spark from farm equipment.

A second fire in Somerset County included about three acres burning on state land.

No injuries were reported in either fire, and no structures were involved.

In the first 10 days of September, the Maryland Forest Service has responded to 19 fires that have burned about 48 acres.