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
Massachusetts county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Massachusetts fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Massachusetts source:
Massachusetts DCR / DFSOpen burning seasonOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Massachusetts has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Bureau of Forest Fire Control administers open burning season (January 15–May 1) and publishes safety information and permit guidance. Burn authorizations on specific days are granted by local fire departments in coordination with DCR and MassDEP, which can cancel burning statewide based on fire danger or air quality.
Massachusetts Open Burning Season — Mass.gov DCR Bureau of Forest Fire ControlView 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 air burning permits are issued by local fire departments and must be renewed each season. Permit fees vary by municipality (e.g., $25/season in some towns, free in others). Permit holders must call their local fire department each day before burning to confirm conditions allow it — DCR or MassDEP may cancel burning statewide on any given day due to fire danger or air quality. Burning season runs January 15 through April 30.
Get Massachusetts burning permit ↗Or call the Massachusetts forestry hotline: 617-626-1250
Massachusetts burning season is legally defined as January 15 to May 1, reflecting the peak fire danger period after winter snowmelt and before spring green-up. Central and western Massachusetts hill towns and the Cape Cod/Plymouth pitch pine plains see the highest fire activity. The Pioneer Valley (Springfield area) and southeastern Massachusetts face elevated risk in dry April winds.
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 Massachusetts. For the legally binding answer, check the official Massachusetts source: Massachusetts DCR / DFS at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/open-burning-safety. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Massachusetts prohibits: All open burning from May 1 through January 14 (outside the legal burning season); Open burning before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. during the permitted season; Open burning within 75 feet of any dwelling or structure; Burning leaves, grass, hay, stumps, and debris from commercial or industrial land clearing; Burning construction materials, demolition waste, and household trash; Open burning in any of the 22 permanently banned communities (including Boston, Springfield, Worcester, Fall River, Lowell, Cambridge, and others); Burning without contacting the fire department on the day of burn to re-activate the permit. Typically still allowed: Brush, cane, driftwood, and forestry debris from non-commercial land between January 15 and May 1 with a local permit; Agricultural materials including fruit tree prunings and trees from agricultural land clearing; Propane and gas grills for cooking at any time; Charcoal grills for cooking at any time; Campfires in designated areas of state parks and forests where permitted. Always verify the specific order with Massachusetts DCR / DFS — 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts DCR / DFS before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Massachusetts independently: Massachusetts DCR / DFS for statewide or regional orders; Local fire departments (fire chiefs) issue open burning permits at the municipal level. DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control and MassDEP jointly have authority to deny burning statewide on any given day. Most Massachusetts county governments were abolished between 1997–2000; governance is at the municipal level. 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 Massachusetts 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.
Massachusetts burning season is legally defined as January 15 to May 1, reflecting the peak fire danger period after winter snowmelt and before spring green-up. Central and western Massachusetts hill towns and the Cape Cod/Plymouth pitch pine plains see the highest fire activity. The Pioneer Valley (Springfield area) and southeastern Massachusetts face elevated risk in dry April winds.
Open air burning permits are issued by local fire departments and must be renewed each season. Permit fees vary by municipality (e.g., $25/season in some towns, free in others). Permit holders must call their local fire department each day before burning to confirm conditions allow it — DCR or MassDEP may cancel burning statewide on any given day due to fire danger or air quality. Burning season runs January 15 through April 30.
Violating a Massachusetts burn ban can result in: Criminal violation under MGL c. 48 § 13 — fine up to $500 plus suppression costs, or imprisonment up to 1 month, or both; Environmental penalty under MGL c. 111 § 142A — criminal fine up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year, or both; Negligently allowing fire to escape property (MGL c. 266 § 9) — civil liability for all damages plus fine up to $100 or 1 month imprisonment; Burning in a permanently banned community — municipal civil citation plus state enforcement action; Repeat violations subject to enhanced penalties under MassDEP enforcement policy.
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 Massachusetts. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Massachusetts DCR / DFS at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/open-burning-safety for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Massachusetts 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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