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
California county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking California fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official California source:
CAL FIRECurrent burn status by unitOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when California has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in California 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.
CAL FIRE publishes real-time county-by-county burn permit status showing whether residential burning is currently allowed or suspended in each county within the State Responsibility Area (SRA). Air quality burn day status must also be verified separately with the local Air Quality Management District before burning, even when CAL FIRE shows a county as 'allowed.'
California County Burn Bans — CAL FIRE Burn PermitsView 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.
CAL FIRE residential burn permits are free and valid annually from May 1 through April 30. Permits are obtained online at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov — applicants must watch a required safety video and acknowledge permit conditions before the permit is issued. Permits are only valid in CAL FIRE's State Responsibility Area (SRA); landowners outside the SRA must contact their local city or county fire authority. Even with a permit, burning requires a permissive burn day declaration from the local Air District.
Get California burning permit ↗Or call the California forestry hotline: (916) 653-5123
California's fire season now effectively runs year-round but peaks from June through November, with Northern California reaching maximum fire danger in July and August due to dry grasses and low humidity after the Mediterranean wet season ends. Southern California faces dual-season risk: an early inland peak in summer and a second dangerous window in September–November when Santa Ana and Diablo offshore winds combine with extreme drought-cured fuels. Coastal areas are somewhat protected by marine layer moisture but are not immune.
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 California. For the legally binding answer, check the official California source: CAL FIRE at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/current-burn-status. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, California prohibits: All residential outdoor burning of landscape debris (leaves, branches, grass clippings) during burn permit suspension; Burning yard waste, garden trimmings, wood, or vegetation on no-burn days declared by local Air Quality Management District; Open burning of any kind during a Red Flag Warning (PRC 4423.1); Burning garbage, treated/painted wood, rubber, plastics, tires, construction debris, or any material producing toxic smoke; Burning poison oak or oleander (requires special air district approval even on permissive days); Use of campfires outside designated facilities when campfire restrictions are proclaimed under PRC 4423.1; Burning without a valid CAL FIRE burn permit within the State Responsibility Area during fire season (May 1 – Oct 31). Typically still allowed: Propane and natural gas grills and outdoor cooking appliances (not subject to burn bans); Charcoal barbecues with screened containment for cooking (not debris burning); Portable propane fire pits and patio heaters; Burning on permissive burn days with a valid CAL FIRE permit (outside suspension periods). Always verify the specific order with CAL FIRE — 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 California 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 CAL FIRE before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in California independently: CAL FIRE for statewide or regional orders; CAL FIRE (State Responsibility Area) and local Air Quality Management Districts jointly control burn bans. Within Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs), city or county fire departments and boards of supervisors issue restrictions. Air districts issue 'permissive burn day' or 'no-burn day' declarations independently of CAL FIRE permit suspensions. 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 California 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.
California's fire season now effectively runs year-round but peaks from June through November, with Northern California reaching maximum fire danger in July and August due to dry grasses and low humidity after the Mediterranean wet season ends. Southern California faces dual-season risk: an early inland peak in summer and a second dangerous window in September–November when Santa Ana and Diablo offshore winds combine with extreme drought-cured fuels. Coastal areas are somewhat protected by marine layer moisture but are not immune.
CAL FIRE residential burn permits are free and valid annually from May 1 through April 30. Permits are obtained online at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov — applicants must watch a required safety video and acknowledge permit conditions before the permit is issued. Permits are only valid in CAL FIRE's State Responsibility Area (SRA); landowners outside the SRA must contact their local city or county fire authority. Even with a permit, burning requires a permissive burn day declaration from the local Air District.
Violating a California burn ban can result in: Burning during a burn permit suspension or on a no-burn day: misdemeanor under PRC 4423, fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months jail; Violation of restricted temporary burning permit terms: misdemeanor, minimum fine of $250 (PRC 4426); Reckless burning causing damage to structure or forest: felony under Penal Code 452, up to 6 years state prison; Health and Safety Code violations for significant air quality burning: civil fines up to $25,000 per day; CAL FIRE may pursue full cost recovery for fire suppression expenses caused by illegal burning.
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 California. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor CAL FIRE at https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov/current-burn-status for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official California 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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