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
Delaware county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Delaware fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Delaware source:
Delaware Forest ServiceWildland fire programOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Delaware has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Delaware 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.
Delaware DNREC Division of Air Quality administers the statewide annual open burning ban (May 1–September 30, the 'Ozone Season'). Outside this period, limited residential burning of cut branches and yard debris is allowed with notification to the county fire board. Additional restrictions apply on Air Quality Action Days and during State Fire Marshal burn bans.
Delaware Open Burning Regulations — DNREC Division of Air QualityView 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.
Homeowners do not need a written permit for residential yard/branch burning during the October 1–April 30 window, but must notify their county fire board before burning. The three county fire board contacts are: New Castle (302-571-7331), Kent (302-734-6040), and Sussex (302-856-6306). Forest managers, farmers, and fire training companies must obtain written approval from DNREC before any prescribed or agricultural burn.
Get Delaware burning permit ↗Or call the Delaware forestry hotline: 302-739-9402
Delaware's spring fire danger period runs February through April before green-up, when dry grasses and leaf litter accumulate in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. The annual ozone-season burning ban begins May 1, effectively ending the primary fire risk window. Sussex County's agricultural areas and the Brandywine Creek State Park corridor face the highest woodland fire exposure.
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 Delaware. For the legally binding answer, check the official Delaware source: Delaware Forest Service at https://agriculture.delaware.gov/forest-service/wildland-fire/. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Delaware prohibits: All open burning from May 1 through September 30 (annual Ozone Season ban), except cooking/campfire exceptions; Burning fallen leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste (not branches/limbs); Burning garbage, trash, and household waste at any time; Open burning of more than 27 cubic feet of yard material at one time (outside the ozone ban period); Open burning before 8:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. during the permitted October–April window; Any outdoor burning on Air Quality Action Days (Code Orange or Red); All open burning during State Fire Marshal-issued burn bans or NWS Red Flag Warnings. Typically still allowed: Cooking fires using firewood, charcoal, propane, or natural gas — permitted year-round; Recreational campfires for warmth or atmosphere using firewood/charcoal — permitted year-round; Ceremonial bonfires using firewood — permitted year-round; Residential burning of cut or fallen limbs, dead branches, and shrubbery (max 27 cubic feet) from October 1 through April 30; Prescribed forest management burns and agricultural burns with written DNREC approval. Always verify the specific order with Delaware Forest Service — 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 Delaware 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 Delaware Forest Service before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Delaware independently: Delaware Forest Service for statewide or regional orders; Delaware has only three counties (New Castle, Kent, Sussex); each county fire board must be notified before residential burning outside the May–September ban. The DNREC Division of Air Quality and the State Fire Marshal jointly issue additional burn 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 Delaware 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.
Delaware's spring fire danger period runs February through April before green-up, when dry grasses and leaf litter accumulate in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. The annual ozone-season burning ban begins May 1, effectively ending the primary fire risk window. Sussex County's agricultural areas and the Brandywine Creek State Park corridor face the highest woodland fire exposure.
Homeowners do not need a written permit for residential yard/branch burning during the October 1–April 30 window, but must notify their county fire board before burning. The three county fire board contacts are: New Castle (302-571-7331), Kent (302-734-6040), and Sussex (302-856-6306). Forest managers, farmers, and fire training companies must obtain written approval from DNREC before any prescribed or agricultural burn.
Violating a Delaware burn ban can result in: Open burning violation — civil fine $100 to $500 under DNREC enforcement (7 DE Admin. Code 1113); Possible criminal record with conviction for willful violations; Report illegal burning to the 24-hour Environmental Complaint Hotline: 1-800-662-8802; Enhanced penalties for repeat violations under DNREC enforcement policy; Civil liability for fire suppression costs and property damages.
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 Delaware. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Delaware Forest Service at https://agriculture.delaware.gov/forest-service/wildland-fire/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Delaware 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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