Fire-caused injuries resulting in decay and deformity can reduce the benefits of the forest community. Mortality from insects and diseases may increase in burned areas. Water temperatures often increase after vegetation shading streams is burned. Higher concentrations of nutrients are found in soils following fires. When plants are burned, the ashes are mixed into the soil releasing nutrients.
Water filtering through burned areas washes nutrients out of the soil and into waterways.
This may change the chemistry of the water. Fish are more likely to suffer the negative consequences of a fire than are other animals. Normally, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service responds to 600 to 700 fires annually. During 1990 to 1993, the number of fires each year was lower than average. In 1994, the Forest Service responded to 701 fires .