Smoke in Bay Communities Coming From a Brush Fire—in Virginia

A brush fire in the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia has caused air problems in Chesapeake Bay communities as far north as Arnold.

Edgewater Patch first started getting reports of a fire in Edgewater around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. There was dense smoke in the air in Mayo and in the Kmart shopping center. But a call to local officials pointed to another culprit—a fire over 200 miles away.

The Great Dismal Swamp fire began last Wednesday. As of yesterday, air quality alerts were being put in place for citizens in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk areas.

In Maryland, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) called Anne Arundel County officials this morning, warning that residents in the county may experience the "odor and light haze of smoke in the county," said Anne Arundel Fire spokesman Chief Michael Cox.

Cox said that the smoke and haze will continue until the wind direction changes, probably later this evening. Around lunchtime, wind was coming out of the south.

The specific area for the alert was for Annapolis and areas south.

According to the Virginia Pilot Online, the fire began with a lightning strike.

Cox said that he was told by MEMA that the fire had grown to a 2,500 acre swamp brush fire. Cox said that the communications officials had seen an increase in calls from citizens for the odor of smoke or seeing smoke in the area.

He added that officials have been in touch with emergency counterparts in Calvert County as well.

These conditions can cause respiratory hazards, although Cox said that as of 11:30 a.m. he had not seen any such reports thus far. Those with asthma and other respiratory conditions should be aware of the outdoor conditions today.

Cox said that the report was originated from NAWAS, the National Warning System, which was established in the 1950s to foster interstate communications in the event of an emergency.