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
Montana county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Montana fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Montana source:
Montana DNRCFire restrictions mapOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Montana has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Montana 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.
MTFireInfo.org is the official interagency fire information portal operated in partnership with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), publishing current fire restriction status by county and jurisdiction. The site also links to an ArcGIS interactive map of DNRC fire restriction boundaries and is the single authoritative aggregator for both DNRC state-land restrictions and county commissioner-issued bans.
Montana Fire Restrictions — MT Fire Info (DNRC)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.
Montana uses a county-administered online burn permit system at app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/, where residents can obtain, activate, and renew permits at any time of day. Permits are free in most participating counties (Missoula County charges $7). Once issued, the permit number is retained permanently and renewed annually; burners must activate it each day before burning. The Montana DEQ Open Burning program also applies separate air-quality requirements for larger vegetative burns.
Get Montana burning permit ↗Or call the Montana forestry hotline: (406) 444-3490
Montana's fire season varies geographically: eastern Montana grasslands face elevated fire risk beginning in June extending through July, while western Montana's dense forests (including the Bitterroot, Lolo, and Flathead National Forests) see peak fire activity from late July through September. The Bitterroot Valley and the Missoula corridor are historically among the most fire-prone corridors in the nation, tied to the legacy of the 1910 Big Burn. Drought years can extend the season well into October across both regions.
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 Montana. For the legally binding answer, check the official Montana source: Montana DNRC at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/pages/restrictions. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Montana prohibits: Building, maintaining, attending, or using any campfire or open fire (Stage 1 and 2); Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle, building, developed recreation site, or a cleared 3-foot area (Stage 1 and 2); Operating any internal combustion engine directly within or above wildland fuels between 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. (Stage 2); Welding or using acetylene or other open-flame torch between 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. (Stage 2); Using explosives between 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. (Stage 2); Operating motorized vehicles off designated roads and trails between 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. (Stage 2); Open burning of debris or agricultural material without a county burn permit during restricted periods. Typically still allowed: Propane or gas stoves and lanterns in cleared areas; Campfires in established steel fire grates at state parks and designated fishing access sites; Cooking fires in fully enclosed propane or gas grills; Motorized vehicle use on designated roads and trails during Stage 2; Burning with a valid written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act. Always verify the specific order with Montana DNRC — 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 Montana 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 Montana DNRC before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Montana independently: Montana DNRC for statewide or regional orders; County Board of Commissioners (issues county-wide fire restrictions and burn bans); County Fire Warden (appointed by commissioners, enforces restrictions and liaisons with DNRC and federal agencies); individual Fire Chiefs may open or close burning within specific fire service areas 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 Montana 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.
Montana's fire season varies geographically: eastern Montana grasslands face elevated fire risk beginning in June extending through July, while western Montana's dense forests (including the Bitterroot, Lolo, and Flathead National Forests) see peak fire activity from late July through September. The Bitterroot Valley and the Missoula corridor are historically among the most fire-prone corridors in the nation, tied to the legacy of the 1910 Big Burn. Drought years can extend the season well into October across both regions.
Montana uses a county-administered online burn permit system at app.egovmt.com/burnpermit/, where residents can obtain, activate, and renew permits at any time of day. Permits are free in most participating counties (Missoula County charges $7). Once issued, the permit number is retained permanently and renewed annually; burners must activate it each day before burning. The Montana DEQ Open Burning program also applies separate air-quality requirements for larger vegetative burns.
Violating a Montana burn ban can result in: Violating fire season or permit requirements under Montana Code Annotated is a misdemeanor; Misdemeanor fine up to $500 and/or up to 6 months in county jail; Obstructing aerial wildfire suppression activities: misdemeanor fine up to $1,500; Negligent arson (felony): fine up to $50,000 and/or up to 10 years in state prison; Full civil liability for all fire suppression costs, resource damages, and property owner losses if a violation causes a wildfire.
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 Montana. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Montana DNRC at https://www.mtfireinfo.org/pages/restrictions for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Montana 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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