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
Michigan county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Michigan fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Michigan source:
Michigan DNRBurn permit status by countyOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Michigan has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Michigan 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 Michigan DNR maintains a real-time interactive Burn Permits Map at dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits showing county-level burn permit status (open/closed) for the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. A 'yes' in the Burning Permits Issued column serves as an official permit — no printing required. Southern Lower Peninsula residents must contact local fire departments directly.
Michigan DNR Burn Permits Map — Michigan DNRView 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.
Michigan offers a free online burn permit system at michigan.gov/BurnPermit (dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits). The interactive county map shows daily burn permit status — if permits are issued for your county that day, the website entry itself serves as your permit with no printing needed. DNR issues permits only for the Upper Peninsula and counties in the northern Lower Peninsula (from Muskegon, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Midland, and Bay counties northward). Residents in the southern Lower Peninsula must obtain permission from their local fire department or township. Call 866-922-BURN (866-922-2876) for questions.
Get Michigan burning permit ↗Or call the Michigan forestry hotline: 866-922-2876
Michigan's primary wildfire season peaks in spring (April through June) when dormant vegetation dries out before green-up, particularly in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula where jack pine and dry sandy soils create extreme fire conditions. A secondary season can occur in fall after leaf-drop. The UP consistently sees 'extreme' fire danger ratings and the DNR may suspend all burn permits statewide when conditions are most hazardous.
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 Michigan. For the legally binding answer, check the official Michigan source: Michigan DNR at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/forestry/fire/burn-permit. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Michigan prohibits: All open burning when a statewide DNR fire ban is in effect (permit system suspended); Burning yard debris within 1,400 feet of an incorporated city or village limit (EGLE air quality rule); Burning any prohibited materials: plastics, tires, treated lumber, household waste, rubber; Burning when wind speeds exceed 10–20 mph or conditions are dry/low humidity; Burning yard debris without a valid DNR permit in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula; Burning of garbage or non-vegetative waste at any time statewide. Typically still allowed: Recreational campfires (check local ordinances); Cooking fires using propane, natural gas, or charcoal grills; Prescribed burning by trained professionals with proper permits; Burning during open burn permit windows when conditions are safe and permit is active. Always verify the specific order with Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan DNR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Michigan independently: Michigan DNR for statewide or regional orders; Local fire chief or local governing body (city, township, or county board); DNR issues statewide bans; southern Lower Peninsula residents follow local fire department directives 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 Michigan 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.
Michigan's primary wildfire season peaks in spring (April through June) when dormant vegetation dries out before green-up, particularly in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula where jack pine and dry sandy soils create extreme fire conditions. A secondary season can occur in fall after leaf-drop. The UP consistently sees 'extreme' fire danger ratings and the DNR may suspend all burn permits statewide when conditions are most hazardous.
Michigan offers a free online burn permit system at michigan.gov/BurnPermit (dnr.state.mi.us/burnpermits). The interactive county map shows daily burn permit status — if permits are issued for your county that day, the website entry itself serves as your permit with no printing needed. DNR issues permits only for the Upper Peninsula and counties in the northern Lower Peninsula (from Muskegon, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Midland, and Bay counties northward). Residents in the southern Lower Peninsula must obtain permission from their local fire department or township. Call 866-922-BURN (866-922-2876) for questions.
Violating a Michigan burn ban can result in: Violation of open burning rules: misdemeanor, fine up to $1,000 per violation plus prosecution costs (MCL 324.11549); Each day a violation occurs constitutes a separate offense; Default of fine payment: up to 6 months imprisonment; Household waste burning — first offense within 3 years: judge's warning; second: civil fine up to $75; third: up to $150; fourth or subsequent: up to $300 (MCL 324.11522); Arson of woodland (willful): felony charges under MCL 750.72 with substantial prison exposure.
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 Michigan. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Michigan DNR at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/forestry/fire/burn-permit for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Michigan 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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