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
Maine county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Maine fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Maine source:
Maine Forest ServiceWildfire danger reportOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Maine has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Maine 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 Maine Forest Service (within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry) administers the statewide burn permit system and publishes fire danger class days. Online permits are available 9 a.m. to midnight at https://www1.maine.gov/burningpermits/. All fires larger than 3'x3' require a permit; Class Days (fire danger ratings) are provided daily to local fire departments from April through November.
Maine Open Burning Permits — Maine Forest Service (DACF)View 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.
Maine burn permits are free and available online at https://www1.maine.gov/burningpermits/ from 9 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, or from your local town forest fire warden. Permits are required for all fires larger than 3'x3' (since October 2023 law change). The Maine Forest Service provides Class Day fire danger ratings daily (April–November) to all local fire departments, who use them to determine whether to issue permits on a given day.
Get Maine burning permit ↗Or call the Maine forestry hotline: 207-287-2791
Maine's fire season runs April through October, with peak risk in April and May before spring green-up, and again in September–October during fall dry spells. The western mountains, Aroostook County's potato fields, and coastal Washington County's blueberry barrens face elevated fire risk. Maine's vast unorganized territories rely entirely on Maine Forest Service rangers for fire response.
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 Maine. For the legally binding answer, check the official Maine source: Maine Forest Service at https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/wildfire_danger_report/index.html. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Maine prohibits: Open burning of piles, brush, or area burns without a required permit (all fires larger than 3' x 3'); Burning plastic, rubber, Styrofoam, metals, food waste, chemicals, treated wood, and non-wood solid wastes; Open burning on Class 3 (High), Class 4 (Very High), or Class 5 (Extreme) fire danger days without special authorization; Agricultural burning of certain crop residues without permit under DACF rules; Open burning that violates any stated permit condition or restriction; Open burning in areas under emergency fire danger closure orders issued by the Commissioner; Burning within unsafe proximity to structures, woodland, or other combustibles without meeting permit setbacks. Typically still allowed: Campfires and small fires under 3' x 3' (no permit required if no ban in effect); Open burning of brush and debris with a valid free permit on Class 1 or Class 2 fire danger days; Propane and gas grills at any time; Charcoal grills for cooking; Prescribed burns up to 10 acres with an online permit from the Maine Forest Service. Always verify the specific order with Maine 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 Maine 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 Maine Forest Service before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Maine independently: Maine Forest Service for statewide or regional orders; Local Town Forest Fire Wardens issue burn permits at the municipal level. Maine Forest Service District Forest Rangers oversee unorganized territories. The Commissioner of DACF can declare emergency fire danger closures statewide. 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 Maine 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.
Maine's fire season runs April through October, with peak risk in April and May before spring green-up, and again in September–October during fall dry spells. The western mountains, Aroostook County's potato fields, and coastal Washington County's blueberry barrens face elevated fire risk. Maine's vast unorganized territories rely entirely on Maine Forest Service rangers for fire response.
Maine burn permits are free and available online at https://www1.maine.gov/burningpermits/ from 9 a.m. to midnight, 7 days a week, or from your local town forest fire warden. Permits are required for all fires larger than 3'x3' (since October 2023 law change). The Maine Forest Service provides Class Day fire danger ratings daily (April–November) to all local fire departments, who use them to determine whether to issue permits on a given day.
Violating a Maine burn ban can result in: Violation of Maine's open burning statute — Class E crime (misdemeanor) under 12 M.R.S.A. Title 12, Chapter 807; Civil penalty up to $25,000 per violation; Combined municipal/state penalties up to $125,000; Court-ordered restitution to government entities for all fire suppression costs incurred; Permittee liability for suppression costs up to $10,000 plus damages if fire escapes control.
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 Maine. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Maine Forest Service at https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/wildfire_danger_report/index.html for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Maine 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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