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
Missouri county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Missouri fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Missouri source:
Missouri Division of Fire SafetyCounty burn bansOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Missouri has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Missouri 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 Missouri Division of Fire Safety (Department of Public Safety) maintains this page listing recent county-level burn bans. County commissions must consult with the State Fire Marshal's office (firesafe@dfs.dps.mo.gov) before issuing a ban under RSMo § 49.266; the Division tracks active ban orders statewide.
Missouri County Burn Bans — Missouri Division of Fire SafetyView 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.
Missouri does not require a state permit for most residential or agricultural open burning. No permit is needed for campfires, household refuse burning (residential), yard waste, or agricultural burning. However, landowners in the St. Louis metropolitan area must provide 48-hour written advance notice to the DNR regional staff director before burning for pest/weed control or crop production between April 15 and September 15. Contact the Missouri DNR Air Pollution Control Program or your local fire department for any special burn approval in incorporated areas or sensitive airsheds.
Get Missouri burning permit ↗Or call the Missouri forestry hotline: 573-751-1744 or 800-392-7766 (Missouri Division of Fire Safety); email: firesafe@dfs.dps.mo.gov
Missouri's most dangerous fire season is spring (March–April), when cured grasses and dry timber litter ignite rapidly under low humidity and gusty winds — March 2025 saw over 1,000 wildland fires statewide in a single month. A fall fire window develops in October–November after leaves drop and before significant precipitation. County burn bans can only be enacted under RSMo § 49.266 when the U.S. Drought Monitor designates the county as Severe (D2), Extreme (D3), or Exceptional (D4) drought, making drought conditions the primary trigger rather than fire weather alone.
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 Missouri. For the legally binding answer, check the official Missouri source: Missouri Division of Fire Safety at https://dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/resources/county-burn-bans.php. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Missouri prohibits: Any open burning during a county commission burn ban (RSMo § 49.266), with limited agricultural exemptions; Burning business and industrial waste including tires, carpet, used oil, asphalt roofing material, rubber products, Styrofoam, plastics, petroleum-based products, treated wood, and asbestos-containing materials at any time; Burning household appliances, furniture, and home remodeling debris; Open burning that creates a health hazard, nuisance, or smoke that impairs visibility on roads or for aircraft; Agricultural burning in St. Louis metropolitan area from April 15 to September 15 without 48-hour advance written notice to regional staff; Ignition of rockets or skyrockets (AFSL-defined) during a county drought burn ban; Land-clearing burns within 200 yards of occupied structures or inside city limits. Typically still allowed: Recreational campfires and bonfires using only vegetative or untreated wood (allowed statewide without permit); Household refuse burning at residential properties with four or fewer dwelling units on owner's property; Yard waste (leaves, branches, vegetation) burning from the same site where it originates; Agricultural burning of crop-related materials with proper seasonal notification requirements; State agencies conducting fire management or suppression (exempt from county burn ban restrictions); Agricultural burning using best management practices (exempt from county drought burn bans under RSMo § 49.266). Always verify the specific order with Missouri Division of Fire Safety — 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 Missouri 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 Missouri Division of Fire Safety before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Missouri independently: Missouri Division of Fire Safety for statewide or regional orders; County Commission (adopts burn ban orders or ordinances under RSMo § 49.266 after consulting State Fire Marshal); municipalities and tax-supported fire protection districts within their jurisdictional boundaries 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 Missouri 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.
Missouri's most dangerous fire season is spring (March–April), when cured grasses and dry timber litter ignite rapidly under low humidity and gusty winds — March 2025 saw over 1,000 wildland fires statewide in a single month. A fall fire window develops in October–November after leaves drop and before significant precipitation. County burn bans can only be enacted under RSMo § 49.266 when the U.S. Drought Monitor designates the county as Severe (D2), Extreme (D3), or Exceptional (D4) drought, making drought conditions the primary trigger rather than fire weather alone.
Missouri does not require a state permit for most residential or agricultural open burning. No permit is needed for campfires, household refuse burning (residential), yard waste, or agricultural burning. However, landowners in the St. Louis metropolitan area must provide 48-hour written advance notice to the DNR regional staff director before burning for pest/weed control or crop production between April 15 and September 15. Contact the Missouri DNR Air Pollution Control Program or your local fire department for any special burn approval in incorporated areas or sensitive airsheds.
Violating a Missouri burn ban can result in: Violating a county drought burn ban: Class A misdemeanor under RSMo § 49.266 — minimum $250 fine up to maximum allowed by Class A misdemeanor; Class A misdemeanor in Missouri: up to 1 year in county jail and/or fine up to $2,000; Negligent burning or exploding (RSMo § 569.065): Class C misdemeanor — up to 15 days in jail and/or fine up to $750; Knowingly burning or exploding property (RSMo § 569.055): felony-level charges depending on damage caused; Civil liability for fire suppression costs and property damage from escaped fires.
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 Missouri. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Missouri Division of Fire Safety at https://dfs.dps.mo.gov/programs/resources/county-burn-bans.php for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Missouri 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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