Live fire restrictions & Red Flag Warnings · National Weather Service
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Live Red Flag Warnings and fire-weather from official feeds — send it to anyone who burns, camps, or works outdoors.
🔴 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
District of Columbia county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking District of Columbia fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official District of Columbia source:
DC Fire & EMSOpen burning / flame permitsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when District of Columbia has no statewide restriction.
County burn bans in District of Columbia 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.
How to check your District of Columbia county burn ban
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.
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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FireRisk.ai is for awareness only, not emergency alerts. For evacuations, follow local authorities and official emergency alerts. Call 911 for immediate emergencies. Alert Terms
The live map and status strip above show active Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches from the National Weather Service for District of Columbia. For the legally binding answer, check the official District of Columbia source: DC Fire & EMS at https://fems.dc.gov/publication/open-flame-permits-requirements. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
Burn bans in District of Columbia typically prohibit all open burning — yard debris, brush piles, campfires, and burning barrels. Grilling with gas or propane on a private patio is usually still permitted (charcoal and wood fires are not). Always read the specific order from DC Fire & EMS.
Gas and propane grills used for cooking on private residential property are typically allowed during a District of Columbia 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 DC Fire & EMS before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in District of Columbia independently: DC Fire & EMS for statewide or regional orders; county commissioners or the county fire marshal 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 District of Columbia 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.
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 District of Columbia. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor DC Fire & EMS at https://fems.dc.gov/publication/open-flame-permits-requirements for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official District of Columbia 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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