Maryland officials lifted an outdoor burn ban Thursday after about 20 days in effect.

After just under an inch of rain fell in the Baltimore area during thunderstorms Wednesday night, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reassessed weather and ground conditions, and rescinded the ban, according to a news release. So far in November, about 1.41 inches of precipitation have fallen in Charm City, according to the National Weather Service.

State officials are still encouraging residents to avoid setting outdoor fires if possible, as the state endures drought conditions. Some localities set their own burn bans, and those may remain in effect, according to DNR.

“Marylanders were very cooperative during the ban, and as a result the outbreak of new wildfires dropped following its implementation on Nov. 1,” Maryland Forest Service State Fire Supervisor Chris Robertson said. “The statewide burn ban has been a critical tool to minimize damage these last few weeks.”

In October, Maryland Fire Service firefighters battled 50 wildland fires that burned about 117.8 acres. That month, 0.36 inches of precipitation fell in Baltimore, compared to the normal level of nearly 4 inches. In November — after the ban took effect — Forest Service personnel responded to 33 fires that burned about 48 acres, which was an improvement, but is still nearly double a ten-year average for November.

Generally, this year’s fires have been small, with each incident handled by the Forest Service burning an average of 2.1 acres this fall.

But a larger incident at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds shooting ranges in November made headlines as smoke spread around the Route 40 corridor. The fire affected about 1,000 acres, a spokesperson for the military base said at the time.

Research shows that climate change could be causing longer and more active fire seasons in some parts of the globe, including the western United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Increases in temperatures and the thirst of the atmosphere due to human-caused climate change have increased aridity of forest fuels during the fire season,” reads a NOAA webpage.

For safe outdoor fires, DNR recommends to avoid burning on windy days, to have hand tools and a water hose nearby, to burn a safe distance away from homes and other structures and to avoid leaving fires unattended.

Have a news tip? Contact Christine Condon at chcondon@baltsun.com, 667-256-6883 and @CChristine19 on X.