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
Ohio county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Ohio fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Ohio source:
Ohio DNR ForestryOpen burning lawsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Ohio has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Ohio 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 Ohio Division of Forestry (forestry.ohiodnr.gov) publishes statewide open burning regulations under ORC 1503.18. County-level burn bans beyond the statewide seasonal restriction are issued by the Ohio State Fire Marshal based on NOAA/USDA drought classifications; the Fire Marshal's ban announcements list affected counties. Local fire departments may impose additional restrictions.
Ohio Division of Forestry Open Burn Laws — ODNRView 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.
Ohio does not have a statewide residential burn permit system. For prescribed burns during the March–May and October–November restricted periods, a waiver from the Chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry is required and burns must be conducted by a Certified Prescribed Fire Manager with Ohio EPA's prior written permission. No waivers are granted for general waste disposal fires during restricted seasons. Contact ODNR Division of Forestry at 877-247-8733.
Get Ohio burning permit ↗Or call the Ohio forestry hotline: 877-247-8733
Ohio experiences its primary wildfire season in spring (March through May) when deciduous hardwood forests in southeastern Ohio are leafless and dried leaves accumulated on the ground become readily ignitable. The Ohio hills of the Unglaciated Plateau in the southeast — bordering West Virginia and Kentucky — see the highest wildfire activity. A secondary fall fire season occurs in October and November when leaf-fall dries out the landscape again.
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 Ohio. For the legally binding answer, check the official Ohio source: Ohio DNR Forestry at https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/woodland-management/open-burn-laws. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Ohio prohibits: All open burning in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during March, April, May, October, and November (ORC 1503.18); Burning of yard waste, trash, and debris in burn barrels during restricted hours; Burning materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, liquid petroleum products, tires, auto parts, plastics, or plastic-coated wire; Burning garbage, dead animals, or building materials at any time; Campfires and bonfires during a State Fire Marshal drought-based burn ban; Discarding lit or smoldering materials (matches, cigarettes) during a State Fire Marshal ban; Use of fireworks and flame-effect displays during a State Fire Marshal ban. Typically still allowed: Propane and natural gas grills at any time; Charcoal grilling for food preparation; Open burning after 6 p.m. during restricted months if safe conditions exist; Burning in a plowed field at least 200 feet from woodland or dry grass during restricted hours (limited exception). Always verify the specific order with Ohio DNR Forestry — 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 Ohio 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 Ohio DNR Forestry before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Ohio independently: Ohio DNR Forestry for statewide or regional orders; Ohio State Fire Marshal (for drought-triggered county bans); local fire departments and county commissioners may impose additional local 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 Ohio 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.
Ohio experiences its primary wildfire season in spring (March through May) when deciduous hardwood forests in southeastern Ohio are leafless and dried leaves accumulated on the ground become readily ignitable. The Ohio hills of the Unglaciated Plateau in the southeast — bordering West Virginia and Kentucky — see the highest wildfire activity. A secondary fall fire season occurs in October and November when leaf-fall dries out the landscape again.
Ohio does not have a statewide residential burn permit system. For prescribed burns during the March–May and October–November restricted periods, a waiver from the Chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry is required and burns must be conducted by a Certified Prescribed Fire Manager with Ohio EPA's prior written permission. No waivers are granted for general waste disposal fires during restricted seasons. Contact ODNR Division of Forestry at 877-247-8733.
Violating a Ohio burn ban can result in: Violation of ORC 1503.18: misdemeanor of the third degree; Misdemeanor of the third degree: up to 60 days jail and/or up to $500 fine per violation; Allowing a fire to escape and damage property of another: civil liability for suppression costs; Additional local ordinance fines may apply on top of state penalties.
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 Ohio. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Ohio DNR Forestry at https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/woodland-management/open-burn-laws for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Ohio 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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