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
New Jersey county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking New Jersey fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official New Jersey source:
NJ Forest Fire ServiceWildfire & fire dangerOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when New Jersey has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in New Jersey 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.
NJDEP publishes a real-time fire danger dashboard showing current conditions and restrictions for all state parks, forests, and historic sites. The NJ Forest Fire Service (part of NJDEP) administers fire restrictions statewide; recreational fire permits must be obtained locally from the municipality's fire official.
New Jersey Fire Danger Conditions & Restrictions — NJDEP Forest Fire 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.
New Jersey does not have a centralized state burn permit system. Open burning permits are issued by local fire officials at the municipal level and are free of charge; requests must be submitted at least 10 days in advance. For burning near woodland (within 100 feet), written permission from the nearest Forest Fire Service fire warden is required. The NJ Forest Fire Service operates three regional offices: Southern/Mays Landing (609-625-1121), Central/New Lisbon (609-726-1621), and Northern/Franklin (973-827-1325).
Get New Jersey burning permit ↗Or call the New Jersey forestry hotline: 609-625-1121
New Jersey's most dangerous fire season is March through May in the Pine Barrens (Pinelands) of Burlington, Ocean, and Atlantic counties, where pitch pine and scrub oak create extreme fuel loads. The Pinelands see the state's most significant wildfire activity; a secondary risk period occurs in October–November during fall dry spells.
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.
By the time you can smell the smoke, your neighbors may already be packing. Get the head start — FireRisk watches your exact address against the same official government feeds the pros use and emails you the moment something changes. 100% free.
Set up in 30 seconds · no app to install · unsubscribe anytime · awareness-only, not an emergency service.
The live map and status strip above show active Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches from the National Weather Service for New Jersey. For the legally binding answer, check the official New Jersey source: NJ Forest Fire Service at https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, New Jersey prohibits: Setting fire to brush, litter, or debris within 100 feet of woodland without written permission from a fire warden; Open burning of rubbish, garbage, leaves, and trade waste under N.J.A.C. 7:27-2.1; Burning buildings or structures by open burning; Salvage operations using open burning; Any open fire when the Forest Fire Service has imposed Stage II or higher restrictions; Open burning in areas under Red Flag or Extreme Fire Danger conditions; Burning tires, rubber, plastics, chemicals, and treated or painted wood. Typically still allowed: Recreational campfires in approved locations when no fire restriction is in effect; Propane and natural gas grills for cooking; Cooking fires using charcoal or firewood in fire pits at least 25 feet from structures; Ceremonial fires with proper local municipal permit; Prescribed burns authorized by the NJ Forest Fire Service with written permit. Always verify the specific order with NJ Forest Fire Service — 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 New Jersey 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 NJ Forest Fire Service before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in New Jersey independently: NJ Forest Fire Service for statewide or regional orders; Local municipal fire officials issue recreational fire permits; the NJ Forest Fire Service (state agency under NJDEP) issues warden permits for burning near woodland and imposes statewide fire restrictions. 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 New Jersey 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.
New Jersey's most dangerous fire season is March through May in the Pine Barrens (Pinelands) of Burlington, Ocean, and Atlantic counties, where pitch pine and scrub oak create extreme fuel loads. The Pinelands see the state's most significant wildfire activity; a secondary risk period occurs in October–November during fall dry spells.
New Jersey does not have a centralized state burn permit system. Open burning permits are issued by local fire officials at the municipal level and are free of charge; requests must be submitted at least 10 days in advance. For burning near woodland (within 100 feet), written permission from the nearest Forest Fire Service fire warden is required. The NJ Forest Fire Service operates three regional offices: Southern/Mays Landing (609-625-1121), Central/New Lisbon (609-726-1621), and Northern/Franklin (973-827-1325).
Violating a New Jersey burn ban can result in: Non-willful violation of Forest Fire Law — civil fine up to $5,000 (N.J.S.A. Title 13:9); Willful violation of Forest Fire Law — civil fine up to $100,000; Reimbursement of all fire suppression costs in addition to fines; Criminal prosecution possible for reckless burning resulting in property damage; Municipal code violations — additional local fines varying by municipality.
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 New Jersey. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor NJ Forest Fire Service at https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/wildfire/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official New Jersey 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.
Get your free 0–100 wildfire risk score, every fire recorded nearby, what it means for your insurance, and the steps that lower it — built on official federal data.
Check my home’s wildfire risk score →