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
Indiana county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Indiana fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Indiana source:
Indiana DHSCounty burn ban mapOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Indiana has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Indiana 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.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources publishes a live county-by-county burn ban map.
Indiana County Burn Ban Map — IDNRView 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.
Indiana does not have a statewide residential burn permit system. Open burning rules are governed by IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) under 326 IAC 4-1. Exempt activities (residential leaf/brush burning, recreational fires, agricultural burning) do not require a state permit but must comply with local ordinances and active burn bans. To report violations, contact IDEM at 800-451-6027 (Option 3). For wildfire emergencies contact IDNR Fire Headquarters at 812-837-9536.
Get Indiana burning permit ↗Or call the Indiana forestry hotline: 317-232-2222
Indiana's peak fire season runs approximately 14 weeks beginning in mid-February through May, when dormant grasses and leaf litter dry out before green-up and wind events are common across the flat agricultural landscape. The Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana and the forested hills near the Ohio River see the highest wildfire activity. A secondary fall season occurs in October–November after leaf-drop.
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.
By the time you can smell the smoke, your neighbors may already be packing. Get the head start — FireRisk watches your exact address against the same official government feeds the pros use and emails you the moment something changes. 100% free.
Set up in 30 seconds · no app to install · unsubscribe anytime · awareness-only, not an emergency service.
The live map and status strip above show active Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches from the National Weather Service for Indiana. For the legally binding answer, check the official Indiana source: Indiana DHS at https://www.in.gov/dhs/burn-ban-map/. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Indiana prohibits: All open burning banned by local fire chief or municipality's burn ban order during active county ban; Burning regulated solid waste including household trash at any time; Open burning of painted or treated wood; Burning of waste tires; Open burning by businesses generated during routine business operations; Burning during high wind conditions, temperature inversions, or Air Quality Action Days. Typically still allowed: Residential burning of leaves, brush, paper, and clean wood waste in a burn barrel at private residences (where permitted by local ordinance); Recreational and ceremonial fires not used for waste disposal (where local ordinance allows); Propane and natural gas grills for cooking at any time; Agricultural burning of vegetation from farm, orchard, nursery, or drainage ditch maintenance. Always verify the specific order with Indiana DHS — 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 Indiana 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 Indiana DHS before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Indiana independently: Indiana DHS for statewide or regional orders; Local fire chief for their jurisdiction, or the legislative body of a city, town, or county; Indiana State Fire Marshal does not declare burn bans but maintains the statewide tracking map 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 Indiana 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.
Indiana's peak fire season runs approximately 14 weeks beginning in mid-February through May, when dormant grasses and leaf litter dry out before green-up and wind events are common across the flat agricultural landscape. The Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana and the forested hills near the Ohio River see the highest wildfire activity. A secondary fall season occurs in October–November after leaf-drop.
Indiana does not have a statewide residential burn permit system. Open burning rules are governed by IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) under 326 IAC 4-1. Exempt activities (residential leaf/brush burning, recreational fires, agricultural burning) do not require a state permit but must comply with local ordinances and active burn bans. To report violations, contact IDEM at 800-451-6027 (Option 3). For wildfire emergencies contact IDNR Fire Headquarters at 812-837-9536.
Violating a Indiana burn ban can result in: Violating a local burn ban order: Class B misdemeanor under IC 10-14-3-34; Class B misdemeanor: up to 180 days imprisonment and fine up to $1,000; Local ordinance violations may carry additional fines (e.g., Indianapolis: up to $2,500; some counties: minimum $250 per violation); IDEM can pursue civil penalties for air quality violations from illegal burning.
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 Indiana. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Indiana DHS at https://www.in.gov/dhs/burn-ban-map/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Indiana 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.
Get your free 0–100 wildfire risk score, every fire recorded nearby, what it means for your insurance, and the steps that lower it — built on official federal data.
Check my home’s wildfire risk score →