Dozens of firefighters utilized boats and a helicopter while battling a Monday morning blaze along the Potomac River.

Officials said someone in Virginia initially spotted the smoke, which was coming from a large, rotted tree on Rocky Island in Montgomery County near Great Falls. 

They aren’t sure how the fire started but said the large response was in part due to dry conditions, with low humidity and wind.

“It took hours and hours for them to cut it up and put the fire completely out,” said Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service Public Information Officer Pete Piringer, who added that those same conditions are why a statewide burn ban remains in effect in Maryland.

Piringer also said that just in Montgomery County, firefighters have responded to about 150 outside fires since October 1.

“Fires spread very quickly when the conditions are like this,” he explained.

As a result, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant, saying that when it comes to fire danger, the region’s recent rain has helped – but it’s still not enough.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley told President Joe Biden on Monday that he was resigning as head of the U.S. Social Security Administration to run for office with the hopes of leading the Democratic National Committee.

O’Malley, 61, announced his candidacy in an interview with the New York Times and emphasized the need to connect with voters through a broad and unifying vision.

“We must connect our Party with the most important place in America — the kitchen table of every family’s home,” O’Malley said in a post on social media. “Jobs, Opportunity, and Economic Security for all. Getting things done. Hope. A 50-state strategy. Now.”

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O’Malley is the first candidate to openly seek the DNC leadership spot as the party tries to reshape itself after the 2024 presidential loss and Republicans’ takeover of both chambers of Congress.

With outgoing chair Jaime Harrison not seeking another term, the new DNC leader will face significant challenges, including mending internal divisions, revamping electoral strategies and preparing for the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential race.

O’Malley’s campaign is focused on showcasing his executive experience and his record on progressive policies and grassroots organizing. He previously chaired the Democratic Governors Association and, more recently, served as the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. The former governor plans to step down from his current role on Nov. 29.

“We face enormous challenges and a lot of soul-searching,” O Malley said in his interview with The Times. “We need to focus on fixing the problem and not the blame.”

The race for DNC chair is expected to draw a competitive field of candidates. Other contenders include Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler; Minnesota Democratic party chief Ken Martin; close Biden aide Mitch Landrieu, also a former New Orleans mayor; and Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, who was appointed to fill the seat of late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2023 and chose not to run for a full term this year, according to Reuters.

Harrison, whose tenure has faced criticism after Vice President Kamala Harris’ decisive defeat by President-elect Donald Trump, is expected to address the party’s future direction in the coming weeks.

USA TODAY’s Cooper Allen, Riley Beggin, Michael Collins, Joey Garrison, David Jackson, and Ariana Triggs; USA TODAY network’s Susan Tompor and Reuters contributed to the reporting of this storyJeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

Rutgers secured bowl eligibility for the second straight season following its 31-17 victory against Maryland.

Here are three thoughts after the game….

A coaching clinic

Head Coach Greg Schiano and the rest of Rutgers’ staff have taken a lot of flack this season, especially after their four-game losing streak. However, one could argue their performance against the Terrapins (4-6, 1-6) was their best of the season, and that was coming off a 26-19 win against Minnesota without their best playmaker in Kyle Monangai.

“When you win four and then you lose four, that thing could go either way,” Schiano said. “The way they bonded together, I think it’s a defining moment for our team and our program.”

Following five lead changes to start the game, the Scarlet Knights (6-4, 3-4) had the ball at Maryland’s 12-yard line with the chance to kick a chip shot field goal and tie the game at 17 with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. Schiano decided to forgo the kick though and went for it on 4th-and-2, only to have Athan Kaliakmanis connect with Dymere Miller Miller for six yards before Monangai punched it in from six yards out to give Rutgers a 21-17 lead with 5:14 left. From there, the Scarlet Knights never trailed again and got their first win over Maryland since 2020.

Another offensive display

Rutgers’ offense has found a groove the last two weeks as they not only totaled over 300 yards in both games, but did so with at least 100 yards on the ground. Kaliakmanis tallied at least two touchdowns for the second week in a row and finished 20-for-30 for 238 yards. The Scarlet Knights also moved the sticks, going 6-for-14 on third down and 3-for-3 on fourth.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Kaliakmanis said. “It was awesome, but we know we got more work to do.”

Schiano also credited his offense and Kaliakmanis’ performance.

“The whole offense is getting better,” Schiano added. “Athan is a big part of that.”

Monangai returned to the lineup and led Rutgers’ rushing attack with 25 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He also became the first player in program history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Ray Rice.

The rollercoaster continues

The bye week seemed to do wonders for Rutgers as it looked more like the team from the first half of the season in the last two weeks than the second. It could not have come at a better time for Schiano’s squad as they are bowl-eligible in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-14.

“I think every guy in that room would tell you getting to the bowl was not the goal this year, but it’s all relative,” Schiano said. “I’ll never take it for granted.”

The journey is not over yet though as the Scarlet Knights have two games left with a chance to meet what many had as preseason expectations. In a season that has featured more twists and turns than Kingda Ka, Rutgers fans hope they are on more incline.

Rutgers will return to action next Saturday when it faces No. 24 Illinois at noon (ET) on Peacock.