Live fire restrictions & Red Flag Warnings · National Weather Service
🔴 Red Flag Warning
Critical fire weather — extreme danger, high winds, low humidity. Burning is typically banned statewide and by county.
🟠 Fire Weather Watch
Dangerous conditions developing within 24–72 hrs. Monitor for upgrade to Red Flag Warning and imminent restrictions.
⚠️ County bans may differ
Alabama county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Alabama fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Alabama source:
Alabama Forestry CommissionBurn restrictionsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Alabama has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Alabama are issued separately from state-level restrictions — a county can be under a burn ban even when the rest of the state is not. County commissioners, the county fire marshal, or the county judge typically issue these orders, and they are not reflected in NWS alerts shown on the map above.
Alabama Forestry Commission posts current county open burning bans.
Alabama Burn Bans — Alabama Forestry CommissionView county map ↗Federal land managers use a tiered system that escalates as fire danger increases. Stage restrictions apply only to the land they are issued for — your county may have a separate burn ban on private land.
Open burning prohibited. Campfires may still be allowed in designated fire rings at developed campgrounds. Portable gas and pressurized-liquid stoves are typically allowed in cleared areas.
All open fires prohibited — including campfires in developed campgrounds. Gas stoves may be allowed in cleared areas. Chainsaw use and motorized off-road vehicles restricted.
Maximum restriction before full closure. All fires may be prohibited. Motorized vehicle use off designated roads, shooting, and spark-producing tools are typically banned.
State or county-level complete ban on all open burning — campfires, burn barrels, brush and agricultural burning. Gas and propane grills for cooking are usually still allowed.
Area is fully closed — no public access or fire-related activity of any kind is permitted.
Typically equivalent to Stage 1. Open burning prohibited; campfires in developed campgrounds may still be allowed. Common on BLM land in NV, OR, and ID.
Agency-specific restriction with unique terms. Always read the specific order from the issuing land management office — scope varies significantly.
Oregon ODF Industrial Fire Precaution Level — applies to industrial operations (logging, equipment) on ODF-protected state and private forestland. IFPL I is the lowest level; IFPL IV is the most restrictive. Separate from USFS campfire restrictions.
Restriction scope and exact prohibitions vary by agency and order. Always confirm with the issuing land management office or visit the official source linked above.
Alabama requires a burn permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission before burning any woodland, grassland, field, or new ground over one-quarter acre or within 25 feet of natural fuels. Permits are free and issued by phone at 1-800-392-5679 from the AFC dispatch center, typically taking just a few minutes. Certified Prescribed Burn Managers may also obtain permits online at burnpermits.forestry.alabama.gov. During a Fire Alert, permits are restricted to Certified Prescribed Burn Managers only.
Get Alabama burning permit ↗Or call the Alabama forestry hotline: 1-800-392-5679
Alabama's most dangerous wildfire periods are late winter through early spring (February through April) and fall (October through November), when low humidity, strong winds, and dry vegetation combine. The southern third of the state, dominated by longleaf and loblolly pine flatwoods, carries the highest fuel loads and sees the most wildfire activity. The Alabama Forestry Commission monitors the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) daily, with a KBDI over 600 triggering a potential Governor's Drought Emergency.
Statewide or regional burn bans and open-burning suspensions on state and private land.
County-wide burn bans — the level that most often affects homeowners and is easy to miss.
Stage 1–3 fire restrictions and closures on national forests, parks, and other federal land.
Municipal open-burning rules, fireworks bans, and local red-flag restrictions.
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The live map and status strip above show active Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches from the National Weather Service for Alabama. For the legally binding answer, check the official Alabama source: Alabama Forestry Commission at https://www.forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Fire/BurnRestrictions.aspx. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Alabama prohibits: All outdoor burning during a Governor's Drought Emergency declaration (KBDI over 600); Prescribed burns by non-certified managers during a Fire Alert; Burning without a required permit in organized fire protection areas; Allowing fire to escape from property and damage neighboring property; Burning brush, stumps, logs, or debris without adequate precautions to prevent escape; Setting fires near forests without first clearing a 10-foot perimeter of combustible material; Leaving unextinguished fires in forests, grasslands, or woodlands. Typically still allowed: Charcoal and masonry pit barbecues with water hose available and 10-foot cleared perimeter; Gas grills used for food preparation; Certified Prescribed Burn Managers may burn with proper permits even during Fire Alerts; Burns under one-quarter acre not within 25 feet of natural fuels do not require AFC permit. Always verify the specific order with Alabama Forestry Commission — prohibited activities can vary by jurisdiction and restriction level.
Gas and propane grills used for cooking on private residential property are typically allowed during a Alabama burn ban. Charcoal grills may be permitted in calm conditions but check the specific order. Wood-fired grills, outdoor fire pits, and campfires are usually prohibited. Always verify with Alabama Forestry Commission before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Alabama independently: Alabama Forestry Commission for statewide or regional orders; State Forester (issues Fire Alerts restricting permits statewide or by region); Governor (issues Drought Emergency proclamations prohibiting all burning); local fire departments may enforce additional county ordinances for county-wide bans that affect most homeowners; federal land managers (U.S. Forest Service, BLM, NPS) for Stage 1–3 restrictions on federal land; and cities or local fire districts for additional local rules. A county burn ban can be active even with no statewide restriction — always check both.
Burn bans in Alabama have no fixed duration — they are issued when fire danger is high and lifted when conditions improve, which can happen overnight or persist for weeks during drought. Red Flag Warnings from the NWS typically last 24–48 hours. State and county burn bans are lifted separately. Check the issuing agency daily during dry, windy conditions.
Alabama's most dangerous wildfire periods are late winter through early spring (February through April) and fall (October through November), when low humidity, strong winds, and dry vegetation combine. The southern third of the state, dominated by longleaf and loblolly pine flatwoods, carries the highest fuel loads and sees the most wildfire activity. The Alabama Forestry Commission monitors the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) daily, with a KBDI over 600 triggering a potential Governor's Drought Emergency.
Alabama requires a burn permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission before burning any woodland, grassland, field, or new ground over one-quarter acre or within 25 feet of natural fuels. Permits are free and issued by phone at 1-800-392-5679 from the AFC dispatch center, typically taking just a few minutes. Certified Prescribed Burn Managers may also obtain permits online at burnpermits.forestry.alabama.gov. During a Fire Alert, permits are restricted to Certified Prescribed Burn Managers only.
Violating a Alabama burn ban can result in: Class C Felony: willfully burning forest or vegetation on land you do not own without permission (Alabama Code 9-13-11); Class A Misdemeanor: recklessly burning vegetation on land not owned or controlled by you (up to 1 year jail, up to $6,000 fine); Class B Misdemeanor: burning without a required permit, allowing fire to escape property, or failing to maintain adequate precautions (up to 6 months jail, up to $3,000 fine); Suppression costs may be assessed against the party responsible for an escaped fire; Civil liability for property damage resulting from an escaped prescribed or debris burn.
Sign up for free FireRisk.ai fire alerts below — we'll notify you when the NWS issues a Red Flag Warning for your area of Alabama. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Alabama Forestry Commission at https://www.forestry.alabama.gov/Pages/Fire/BurnRestrictions.aspx for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Alabama agency sources. Burn ban status changes daily — always confirm with the official source and your county before any outdoor burning. This page is for awareness only and is not an official or legal notice. For fire emergencies call 911.
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