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
Colorado county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Colorado fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Colorado source:
Colorado DFPCFire restriction info & mapOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Colorado has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Colorado 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.
The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) maintains a comprehensive statewide list of active county fire bans and Stage 1/Stage 2 restrictions at dfpc.colorado.gov/firerestriction. County-level bans are typically issued by the County Sheriff or Board of County Commissioners and reported to DFPC; the Colorado State Forest Service at csfs.colostate.edu links to this DFPC page as the primary tracking resource.
Colorado County Burn Bans — CO Division of Fire Prevention and ControlView 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.
Open burn permits in Colorado are issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Air Pollution Control Division. Small pile or slash burn permits (up to 50 piles, max 8x8x8 feet each, must be cold by sunset) are available as downloadable forms at cdphe.colorado.gov/apens-and-air-permits/open-burn-small-pile/slash-permits. Larger prescribed burns require a Smoke Management Permit. Some counties have been delegated authority to issue local permits. The DFPC manages a Certified Burner Program for prescribed fire practitioners.
Get Colorado burning permit ↗Or call the Colorado forestry hotline: (303) 239-4600
Colorado's fire season peaks from May through September, with the Front Range foothills and I-25 corridor seeing the highest risk in June and July due to compressional warming, low humidity, and strong downslope winds that can drive rapid fire spread into the urban-wildland interface. Western slope counties and the San Juan Mountains face danger from May through early July before monsoon moisture arrives. Winter fire events have become increasingly common on the eastern plains under chinook wind conditions.
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 Colorado. For the legally binding answer, check the official Colorado source: Colorado DFPC at https://dfpc.colorado.gov/firerestriction. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Colorado prohibits: Stage 1: Open burning, bonfires, and burning of any debris on any land; Stage 1: Fireworks of any kind; Stage 1: Tracer or incendiary ammunition; Stage 1: Campfires outside of permanently constructed fire grates in developed parks, campgrounds, or private residences; Stage 2: All outdoor fires including campfires in any fire grate or ring, charcoal grills, and wood fires at private residences; Stage 2: Welding or cutting torch use without a permit; Stage 2: Operation of chainsaws or small engines without an approved spark arrestor. Typically still allowed: Portable propane or liquid-fueled camp stoves and grills (both stages); Campfires in permanently constructed fire grates at developed campgrounds, parks, or private residences (Stage 1 only); Chainsaw use with a functioning spark arrestor, fire extinguisher, and shovel on-site (Stage 1 only); Smoking inside enclosed vehicles or buildings, or in an area 6 feet in diameter cleared of combustible material. Always verify the specific order with Colorado DFPC — 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 Colorado 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 Colorado DFPC before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Colorado independently: Colorado DFPC for statewide or regional orders; County Sheriff or Board of County Commissioners (either may issue orders independently) 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 Colorado 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.
Colorado's fire season peaks from May through September, with the Front Range foothills and I-25 corridor seeing the highest risk in June and July due to compressional warming, low humidity, and strong downslope winds that can drive rapid fire spread into the urban-wildland interface. Western slope counties and the San Juan Mountains face danger from May through early July before monsoon moisture arrives. Winter fire events have become increasingly common on the eastern plains under chinook wind conditions.
Open burn permits in Colorado are issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Air Pollution Control Division. Small pile or slash burn permits (up to 50 piles, max 8x8x8 feet each, must be cold by sunset) are available as downloadable forms at cdphe.colorado.gov/apens-and-air-permits/open-burn-small-pile/slash-permits. Larger prescribed burns require a Smoke Management Permit. Some counties have been delegated authority to issue local permits. The DFPC manages a Certified Burner Program for prescribed fire practitioners.
Violating a Colorado burn ban can result in: Knowingly violating a fire ban order while knowing it prohibits fires (CRS): Class 6 felony; Careless or reckless fire (building/tending fire carelessly): misdemeanor — up to $1,000 fine; Stage 1/2 violation (general): up to $5,000 fine and up to 6 months jail; Open burning without permit, first offense (CRS § 25-7-123): civil penalty up to $500 per day; Open burning without permit, second offense: civil penalty up to $1,000 per day; Open burning without permit, third or subsequent offense: civil penalty up to $1,500 per day.
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 Colorado. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Colorado DFPC at https://dfpc.colorado.gov/firerestriction for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Colorado 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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