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
Iowa county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Iowa fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Iowa source:
Iowa DNROpen burning regulationsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Iowa has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Iowa 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.
The Iowa State Fire Marshal Division publishes active statewide and county-level burn bans and proclamations on this page. County Emergency Management Agencies also maintain local ban information; the ArcGIS Active Burn Ban Dashboard (arcgis.com) tracks county-by-county ban status in real time.
Iowa Statewide Burn Bans — Iowa State Fire Marshal DivisionView 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.
Iowa does not have a statewide online permit system equivalent to Minnesota or Wisconsin. Permits for supervised, controlled burns are issued by the local fire chief of the fire district where the burn will occur. Polk and Linn counties require burning permits from their county offices before any open burning. The Iowa DNR must be notified at least 10 working days before demolition building burns or firefighter training fires. Always contact your local fire department or county Emergency Management office before burning, as local ordinances may be more restrictive than state rules.
Get Iowa burning permit ↗Or call the Iowa forestry hotline: 515-725-6145 (Iowa State Fire Marshal Division main line); 515-725-6150 (State Fire Marshal direct)
Iowa's highest wildfire risk occurs in spring (March–May) when dormant prairie grasses and crop residue dry rapidly after snowmelt, and again in fall (October–November) after first frost. Spring conditions — low humidity, wind, and cured vegetation — produce fast-moving grassland and brush fires, particularly in western and southern Iowa. Drought conditions (U.S. Drought Monitor Severe, Extreme, or Exceptional designations) are the primary trigger for county burn bans.
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 Iowa. For the legally binding answer, check the official Iowa source: Iowa DNR at https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/air-quality/open-burning. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Iowa prohibits: All open burning in the affected geographic area during a State Fire Marshal proclamation ban; Burning garbage, rubber tires, asphalt materials, treated wood, plastics, metals, and petroleum products at any time (Iowa Admin. Code 567—23.2); Burning recyclable materials unless genuinely non-recyclable; Burning within one-quarter mile of any inhabited building, livestock area, wildlife area, or water source without a permit; Burning more than one day's accumulation or 50 pounds of material per day (whichever is less) without special approval; Open burning in Polk and Linn counties without a required local burning permit. Typically still allowed: Supervised, controlled burns with a permit issued by the local fire chief (exempt from State Fire Marshal proclamation bans); Outdoor fireplaces and barbecue grills (exempt from burn bans under Iowa Code § 100.40); Burning trash in approved metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy wire-mesh incinerators meeting specifications; Properly supervised landfill burning operations; Burning landscape waste originating on the property for residential properties with four or fewer dwelling units. Always verify the specific order with Iowa DNR — 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 Iowa 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 Iowa DNR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Iowa independently: Iowa DNR for statewide or regional orders; Board of Supervisors (county-level bans via Iowa Code § 331.301); State Fire Marshal (statewide proclamations at request of local fire chiefs, city councils, or boards of supervisors under Iowa Code § 100.40) 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 Iowa 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.
Iowa's highest wildfire risk occurs in spring (March–May) when dormant prairie grasses and crop residue dry rapidly after snowmelt, and again in fall (October–November) after first frost. Spring conditions — low humidity, wind, and cured vegetation — produce fast-moving grassland and brush fires, particularly in western and southern Iowa. Drought conditions (U.S. Drought Monitor Severe, Extreme, or Exceptional designations) are the primary trigger for county burn bans.
Iowa does not have a statewide online permit system equivalent to Minnesota or Wisconsin. Permits for supervised, controlled burns are issued by the local fire chief of the fire district where the burn will occur. Polk and Linn counties require burning permits from their county offices before any open burning. The Iowa DNR must be notified at least 10 working days before demolition building burns or firefighter training fires. Always contact your local fire department or county Emergency Management office before burning, as local ordinances may be more restrictive than state rules.
Violating a Iowa burn ban can result in: Violating a State Fire Marshal burn ban proclamation: simple misdemeanor under Iowa Code § 100.40; Simple misdemeanor fine: $105 minimum to $855 maximum (Iowa Code § 903.1), plus court surcharges; Simple misdemeanor may also include imprisonment up to 30 days; County ordinances may impose additional local penalties — some counties set up to $500 and/or 30 days per occurrence; Civil liability for fire suppression costs and property damages if a fire escapes.
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 Iowa. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Iowa DNR at https://www.iowadnr.gov/environmental-protection/air-quality/open-burning for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Iowa 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 →