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
Pennsylvania county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Pennsylvania fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Pennsylvania source:
Pennsylvania DCNRBurn bansOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Pennsylvania has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Pennsylvania 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.
DCNR publishes a live county burn ban map/PDF updated regularly; county bans are initiated when at least 10 fire chiefs (or 50% of chiefs) in a county request one through the district fire warden. The current ban status document is also accessible at https://elibrary.dcnr.pa.gov/GetDocument?docId=8921989&DocName=County+Burn+Bans.pdf
Pennsylvania County Burn Bans — DCNR Bureau of ForestryView 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.
Pennsylvania does not require a statewide burn permit for most residential open burning, but township and municipality ordinances vary widely. When county burn bans are not in effect, open burning of brush and yard debris is generally allowed by notifying the local fire department. District foresters can issue written permits for special burns during restricted periods.
Get Pennsylvania burning permit ↗Or call the Pennsylvania forestry hotline: 717-787-2703
Pennsylvania's peak fire danger runs from mid-March through early May when deciduous trees are leafless and dried fuels accumulate on the forest floor. The Ridge and Valley and Pocono plateau regions are historically most vulnerable. A secondary fall fire season occurs in October–November after leaf-drop.
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 Pennsylvania. For the legally binding answer, check the official Pennsylvania source: Pennsylvania DCNR at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/community-outreach-and-development/wildfire/burn-bans. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Pennsylvania prohibits: All open burning of combustible debris (leaves, grass, twigs, litter, paper, vegetative land-clearing waste) during an active county burn ban; Open burning in state forests from March 1 through May 25 (annual state forest closure period); Burning garbage, household waste, and treated or painted wood at any time; Kindling fires within 150 feet of woodland when fire danger is elevated; Burning without a permit when required by district forester or local ordinance; Open debris burning that creates a fire hazard or nuisance; Agricultural burning without prior notification to the local fire department. Typically still allowed: Propane and gas grills (explicitly exempt from county burn bans); Charcoal grills used for cooking; Tobacco smoking (explicitly exempt from county burn bans); Campfires in designated campground fire rings where permitted; Prescribed burns authorized by DCNR Bureau of Forestry with a written permit. Always verify the specific order with Pennsylvania DCNR — 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania DCNR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Pennsylvania independently: Pennsylvania DCNR for statewide or regional orders; District Fire Warden (District Forester) issues county bans upon request of at least 10 fire chiefs or 50% of chiefs in a county; County Commissioners may extend bans beyond 30 days upon forester recommendation. 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 Pennsylvania 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.
Pennsylvania's peak fire danger runs from mid-March through early May when deciduous trees are leafless and dried fuels accumulate on the forest floor. The Ridge and Valley and Pocono plateau regions are historically most vulnerable. A secondary fall fire season occurs in October–November after leaf-drop.
Pennsylvania does not require a statewide burn permit for most residential open burning, but township and municipality ordinances vary widely. When county burn bans are not in effect, open burning of brush and yard debris is generally allowed by notifying the local fire department. District foresters can issue written permits for special burns during restricted periods.
Violating a Pennsylvania burn ban can result in: Dangerous burning (recklessly starting a fire endangering persons or property) — Summary offense under 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301; Failure to control or report a dangerous fire — Misdemeanor of the first degree; Arson endangering property — Felony of the second degree, up to 10 years imprisonment; Environmental violations under 25 Pa. Code § 129.14 — civil penalties up to $25,000 per day; Violating a county burn ban — local summary citation plus potential civil liability for suppression costs.
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 Pennsylvania. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Pennsylvania DCNR at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dcnr/programs-and-services/community-outreach-and-development/wildfire/burn-bans for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Pennsylvania 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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