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
Nebraska county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Nebraska fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Nebraska source:
Nebraska State Fire MarshalBurn permits & bansOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Nebraska has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Nebraska 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 Nebraska Forest Service publishes a three-day fire danger forecast map at nfs.unl.edu showing fire risk levels and active warnings by county. During emergencies, the Governor may issue statewide burn bans by executive order; local burn permit authority rests with local fire chiefs under Nebraska Revised Statute 81-520.01.
Nebraska County Burn Bans — Nebraska Forest ServiceView 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.
Nebraska has a statewide open burning ban by statute (NRS 81-520.01), but local fire chiefs may waive it by issuing open burning permits. Permits are obtained from the local fire department — not from a state website — and must include the landowner name and phone, burn location, date and time window, materials to be burned, and the responsible party's contact information. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal oversees the system; contact the main office at 402-471-2027. There is no uniform statewide online permit portal; applicants contact their local fire department directly.
Get Nebraska burning permit ↗Or call the Nebraska forestry hotline: 402-472-2944
Nebraska's peak wildfire danger occurs from February through April, when winter-cured grasses, low humidity, and persistent south and southwest winds create rapid-spread conditions across the Sandhills, central plains, and Panhandle. Significant secondary risk occurs in late summer and fall, particularly in drought years. Nebraska experienced its largest wildfires on record in 2026, burning over one million Great Plains acres.
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 Nebraska. For the legally binding answer, check the official Nebraska source: Nebraska State Fire Marshal at https://sfm.nebraska.gov/fire-departments/burn-permits. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Nebraska prohibits: All bonfires and open rubbish fires without a permit from the local fire chief (statewide standing ban under NRS 81-520.01); Fires for the purpose of clearing land without a local fire chief permit; All open burning when a statewide executive order burn ban is in effect (Governor can suspend permit-issuing authority); Campfires at state park areas and wildlife management areas during declared bans; Burning during any active National Weather Service Red Flag Warning; Open burning without prior notification meeting the minimum permit information requirements (burn location, timing, materials, responsible party contact). Typically still allowed: Cooking with liquid or gas fuel camp stoves (explicitly allowed during bans to reduce ember risk); Propane and natural gas grills for food preparation; Range-management burning when specifically exempted by Governor executive order (e.g., irrigation district ditch clearing may receive exception); Interior fireplaces, furnaces, and enclosed stoves. Always verify the specific order with Nebraska State Fire Marshal — 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska State Fire Marshal before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Nebraska independently: Nebraska State Fire Marshal for statewide or regional orders; Local Fire Chief (issues open burning permits and can suspend them during dangerous conditions); Governor may issue statewide executive order burn bans superseding all local permit authority 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 Nebraska 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.
Nebraska's peak wildfire danger occurs from February through April, when winter-cured grasses, low humidity, and persistent south and southwest winds create rapid-spread conditions across the Sandhills, central plains, and Panhandle. Significant secondary risk occurs in late summer and fall, particularly in drought years. Nebraska experienced its largest wildfires on record in 2026, burning over one million Great Plains acres.
Nebraska has a statewide open burning ban by statute (NRS 81-520.01), but local fire chiefs may waive it by issuing open burning permits. Permits are obtained from the local fire department — not from a state website — and must include the landowner name and phone, burn location, date and time window, materials to be burned, and the responsible party's contact information. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal oversees the system; contact the main office at 402-471-2027. There is no uniform statewide online permit portal; applicants contact their local fire department directly.
Violating a Nebraska burn ban can result in: Violating the statewide open burning ban (NRS 81-520.02): Class IV misdemeanor — no jail time, fine of $100 to $500; Burning during a Governor-declared statewide burn ban: subject to enhanced enforcement and civil liability; Failure to control a fire that escapes: civil liability for all suppression costs and property damages; Arson or reckless burning causing property damage: felony charges under Nebraska criminal statutes.
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 Nebraska. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Nebraska State Fire Marshal at https://sfm.nebraska.gov/fire-departments/burn-permits for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Nebraska 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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