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
Connecticut county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Connecticut fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Connecticut source:
CT DEEP ForestryDaily forest fire danger reportOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Connecticut has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Connecticut 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.
Connecticut DEEP publishes the statewide open burning framework and forest fire danger reports; the State Forest Fire Warden declares when fire danger is High, Very High, or Extreme, which voids all local open burning permits. Connecticut abolished county governments in 1960, so permits are issued at the municipal level by local Open Burning Officials.
Connecticut Open Burning Regulations — CT DEEPView 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.
Connecticut residents must obtain a signed permit from their local Open Burning Official (typically the local fire marshal or fire department) before any open burning. Municipal burn permits are free in most towns. During periods when the Forest Fire Danger is rated High or above, all local permits are automatically suspended. During a declared burning ban, only the State Forest Fire Warden can issue a special burning permit for immediate necessity.
Get Connecticut burning permit ↗Or call the Connecticut forestry hotline: 860-424-3929
Connecticut's peak wildfire danger runs from mid-March through early May before green-up, when leaf litter from the prior fall is driest. The northwestern highlands and eastern uplands see elevated risk. A secondary window occurs in late October through November after leaf-fall and before consistent snow cover.
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 Connecticut. For the legally binding answer, check the official Connecticut source: CT DEEP Forestry at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Fire/Forest-Fire-Danger-Report. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Connecticut prohibits: Open burning within 100 feet of woodland when forest fire danger is rated High, Very High, or Extreme; Burning during any drought emergency declared by the State Forest Fire Warden; Burning when the Air Quality Index is forecast to reach 100 or above anywhere in the state; Land clearing burns before construction or for development; Burning construction debris, household trash, and fallen leaves; Any open fire during an active statewide burning ban declared by DEEP; Burning without a valid local Open Burning Official permit where required. Typically still allowed: Campfires, fire pits, and chimineas burning dry, non-processed wood with a valid local permit; Propane and natural gas grills at any time; Charcoal grills for cooking; Ceremonial or celebratory fires with a special permit from the State Forest Fire Warden during bans; Agricultural prescribed burns under DEEP authorization. Always verify the specific order with CT DEEP Forestry — 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 Connecticut 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 CT DEEP Forestry before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Connecticut independently: CT DEEP Forestry for statewide or regional orders; Connecticut has no county governments (abolished 1960). The State Forest Fire Warden (within DEEP) declares statewide bans; local Open Burning Officials (fire marshals or fire chiefs) in each of Connecticut's 169 municipalities issue permits and enforce local restrictions. 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 Connecticut 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.
Connecticut's peak wildfire danger runs from mid-March through early May before green-up, when leaf litter from the prior fall is driest. The northwestern highlands and eastern uplands see elevated risk. A secondary window occurs in late October through November after leaf-fall and before consistent snow cover.
Connecticut residents must obtain a signed permit from their local Open Burning Official (typically the local fire marshal or fire department) before any open burning. Municipal burn permits are free in most towns. During periods when the Forest Fire Danger is rated High or above, all local permits are automatically suspended. During a declared burning ban, only the State Forest Fire Warden can issue a special burning permit for immediate necessity.
Violating a Connecticut burn ban can result in: Criminal violation under CGS § 23-48 and § 23-49a — fine up to $200 or imprisonment up to 6 months, or both; DEEP civil penalties for environmental violations — documented cases ranging from $10,000 to $12,000; Municipal ordinance violations — graduated fines starting at written warning, then $100 per subsequent offense; Liability for all fire suppression costs if fire escapes control; Additional civil penalties under CGS § 22a-174(f) for air quality violations.
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 Connecticut. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor CT DEEP Forestry at https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Forestry/Forest-Fire/Forest-Fire-Danger-Report for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Connecticut 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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