At 11:53 this morning units responded for the report of a brush fire in Ellicott City. Engine 31 and Brush 38 arrived in the 3000 block of Merlin Court after a caller advised that there was a fire behind her residence. Firefighters located a small fire near a stand of bamboo and were able to swiftly extinguish it.
The area is seeing an enhanced risk of brush fires, as Howard County is in a "Moderate Drought" according to the U.S. Drought Monitor because this September is Baltimore's second-driest on record. Embers can ignite dry leaves and other fuels and residents are urged to keep this in mind when using gas powered equipment, building a campfire, or disposing of coals and ashes.