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
Hawaii county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Hawaii fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Hawaii source:
Hawaii DLNR DOFAWFire management programOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Hawaii has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Hawaii 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.
Hawaii's DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) manages fire prevention and publishes fire management information statewide. DOFAW is responsible for fire response on nearly 60% of Hawaii's land area. County-level burn bans during Red Flag Warnings are declared by County Mayors via Emergency Proclamation and are announced through county government news pages (e.g., hawaiicounty.gov); the state DOH Clean Air Branch (health.hawaii.gov/cab) governs open burning permits statewide.
Hawaii Wildfire & Burn Restriction Status — DLNR Division of Forestry and WildlifeView 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 burning is generally prohibited in Hawaii except for cooking and agricultural operations. Agricultural businesses requiring burn permits must obtain an Agricultural Burning Permit (AGP) from the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Air Branch through their online e-Permitting System. The permit specifies allowable burn locations, times, materials, and notification requirements. Fire danger, drought conditions, and 'No-Burn' periods can suspend permits. Contact the Clean Air Branch at (808) 586-4200 (Oahu) or (808) 984-8234 (Maui) for permit applications and current burn status.
Get Hawaii burning permit ↗Hawaii's wildfire season peaks from May through October, driven by the islands' dry leeward sides where trade winds deposit little moisture. Non-native invasive grasses — introduced for cattle ranching — blanket vast stretches of leeward land on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu, drying to dense tinder by midsummer. The catastrophic August 2023 Lahaina fire on Maui, which killed over 100 people, demonstrated how strong kona winds and drought conditions can drive grass fires through developed areas at extreme speed, making leeward zones especially dangerous during summer Red Flag Warning events.
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 Hawaii. For the legally binding answer, check the official Hawaii source: Hawaii DLNR DOFAW at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/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, Hawaii prohibits: All outdoor burning and open flames during a County Emergency Burn Ban Proclamation (issued by Mayor during Red Flag Warnings); Hot work operations (grinding, welding, flame cutting, spark-producing activities) during a Burn Ban; Backyard burning of garbage, yard waste, and green waste on all islands — prohibited statewide since January 2012; Setting any fire in a closed fire area without a permit (HRS §185-7); Discarding burning materials (cigarettes, matches) within a closed fire area; Burning trash, plastics, rubber, or other synthetic materials at any time; Allowing a fire to escape control on land you do not own, lease, or control (HRS §185-7 — willfulness presumed). Typically still allowed: Cooking fires (charcoal grills and braziers) for food preparation purposes; Stoves and lanterns using propane, butane, gas, alcohol, or other fuels in designated campgrounds; Agricultural burning with a valid Agricultural Burning Permit (AGP) from the DOH Clean Air Branch; Campfires in fire pits and campfire rings designated by the City and County (with applicable rules); Good-faith backfires set to stop a spreading fire are legally exempt from penalty (HRS §185-7). Always verify the specific order with Hawaii DLNR DOFAW — 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii DLNR DOFAW before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Hawaii independently: Hawaii DLNR DOFAW for statewide or regional orders; County Mayors (by Emergency Proclamation during Red Flag Warnings); DLNR Forestry Managers (for state forest reserves and public lands under HRS §185) 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 Hawaii 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.
Hawaii's wildfire season peaks from May through October, driven by the islands' dry leeward sides where trade winds deposit little moisture. Non-native invasive grasses — introduced for cattle ranching — blanket vast stretches of leeward land on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu, drying to dense tinder by midsummer. The catastrophic August 2023 Lahaina fire on Maui, which killed over 100 people, demonstrated how strong kona winds and drought conditions can drive grass fires through developed areas at extreme speed, making leeward zones especially dangerous during summer Red Flag Warning events.
Open burning is generally prohibited in Hawaii except for cooking and agricultural operations. Agricultural businesses requiring burn permits must obtain an Agricultural Burning Permit (AGP) from the Hawaii Department of Health Clean Air Branch through their online e-Permitting System. The permit specifies allowable burn locations, times, materials, and notification requirements. Fire danger, drought conditions, and 'No-Burn' periods can suspend permits. Contact the Clean Air Branch at (808) 586-4200 (Oahu) or (808) 984-8234 (Maui) for permit applications and current burn status.
Violating a Hawaii burn ban can result in: Violating a fire closure or burn ban: misdemeanor, fine $250–$4,000 (HRS §185-7); Restitution liability for all wildfire suppression costs and property damages (HRS §185-7); Interfering with DLNR managers during fire operations: fine $500–$2,000 (HRS §185-7); Violating a County Emergency Burn Ban Proclamation (Hawaii County): fine up to $1,000 per violation; Willfully, maliciously, or negligently setting a fire that burns others' property: misdemeanor plus full restitution (HRS §185-7).
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 Hawaii. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Hawaii DLNR DOFAW at https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/forestry/fire/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Hawaii 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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