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
North Dakota county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking North Dakota fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official North Dakota source:
ND ResponseBurn restrictions & fire danger mapsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when North Dakota has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in North Dakota 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.
NDResponse.gov publishes an interactive map showing real-time burn restrictions, fire danger ratings, Red Flag warnings, and county-level declarations statewide. The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services maintains this resource in coordination with the North Dakota Forest Service and local county emergency managers.
North Dakota County Burn Bans — ND Response / DESView 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.
Open burning that does not qualify as permissible agricultural or campfire burning requires a variance (Form SFN-8509) approved by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Applicants must first obtain signatures from the local/district health unit and local fire department, then submit to ND DEQ at 701-328-5153. Not all variance applications are approved. Burning of rubber, tires, tar paper, asphalt shingles, plastics, and treated wood is never approved.
Get North Dakota burning permit ↗Or call the North Dakota forestry hotline: 701-328-9944
North Dakota's peak wildfire season runs from March through May, when dormant grasses and high plains winds create explosive fire conditions before spring green-up. A secondary danger period occurs in late summer and fall, particularly after harvest when stubble burns and dry conditions return. Wind speed is the dominant fire behavior driver on North Dakota's open grasslands and prairies.
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 North Dakota. For the legally binding answer, check the official North Dakota source: ND Response at https://ndresponse.gov/burn-restrictions-fire-danger-maps. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, North Dakota prohibits: All open burning of any kind when the State Fire Danger Rating Index is HIGH, VERY HIGH, or EXTREME; All open burning during any active Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service; Burning of leaves, grass clippings, and yard waste during declared restrictions; Burning of crop residue, hay land, and slough vegetation during declared restrictions; Campfires and bonfires during active burn bans; Fireworks during active burn bans (may be included per local declaration); Burning of garbage, construction debris, and fallen trees during declared restrictions. Typically still allowed: Cooking fires in enclosed, non-spark-producing appliances (propane grills, gas ranges); Interior fireplaces, wood stoves, and furnaces; Controlled burns during LOW or MODERATE fire danger with prior notification to State Emergency Communications Center (1-800-472-2121); Agricultural crop burning with 50-foot plow strip firebreak when fire index is LOW or MODERATE; Campfires in designated areas when fire danger is below HIGH. Always verify the specific order with ND Response — 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 North Dakota 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 ND Response before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in North Dakota independently: ND Response for statewide or regional orders; County Commission (with governing boards of cities for areas within municipal boundaries); local emergency managers coordinate declarations based on State Fire Danger Index ratings 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 North Dakota 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.
North Dakota's peak wildfire season runs from March through May, when dormant grasses and high plains winds create explosive fire conditions before spring green-up. A secondary danger period occurs in late summer and fall, particularly after harvest when stubble burns and dry conditions return. Wind speed is the dominant fire behavior driver on North Dakota's open grasslands and prairies.
Open burning that does not qualify as permissible agricultural or campfire burning requires a variance (Form SFN-8509) approved by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Applicants must first obtain signatures from the local/district health unit and local fire department, then submit to ND DEQ at 701-328-5153. Not all variance applications are approved. Burning of rubber, tires, tar paper, asphalt shingles, plastics, and treated wood is never approved.
Violating a North Dakota burn ban can result in: Violating a declared burn ban: Class B misdemeanor under NDCC 37-17.1-10.1 — up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine; Unlawfully setting fire to woods, marsh, prairie, hay, weeds, grass, or stubble: Class A misdemeanor — up to 360 days in jail and a $3,000 fine; Failing to extinguish a lawful fire: Class B misdemeanor — up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine; Civil liability for suppression costs if uncontrolled fire requires emergency response.
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 North Dakota. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor ND Response at https://ndresponse.gov/burn-restrictions-fire-danger-maps for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official North Dakota 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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