Grass Fire At Soldiers Delight

Photo by Ranger Mike Travers

On Tuesday, January 21 at 5:40 p.m., crews from the Baltimore County Fire Department were dispatched to a brush fire on the east side of Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area in Owings Mills. Firefighters accessed the area via Sunnyking Road; the fire burned just west of the Red Run Trail near the Choate Mine Trail. The fire was contained by approximately 7:00 p.m. Maryland Forest Service officials confirmed that the extent of area burned was 10.8 acres.

Fire crews on foot contained the low temperature, slow-rolling fire using hand tools and backpack Indian tanks, which carry five gallons of water and are operated with a hand pump. No heavy trucks or chemical retardants were used to access or contain the small blaze. The primary fuel consumed was dried grasses and wildflowers. The fire did not burn into the surrounding woods. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources conducts prescribed burns annually in spring and autumn at Soldiers Delight (weather permitting), as part of the serpentine ecosystem restoration program. These regular, controlled burns effectively reduce the fuel load and the risk of damage from uncontrolled wildfires.

Many thanks to the Baltimore County Fire Department for their excellent job in suppressing this fire while avoiding any damage to the ecosystem.