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
Rhode Island county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Rhode Island fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Rhode Island source:
Rhode Island DEMWildfire danger reportOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Rhode Island has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island DEM Division of Forest Environment publishes the daily Wildfire Danger Report (Class 1–5 scale) and issues fire bans at state parks, campgrounds, and management areas when danger is elevated. Rhode Island has no county governments; local fire departments issue permits and enforce open burning rules. The DEM wildfire danger report can be found at https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/forest-environment/forest-fire-wildfire-danger-report
Rhode Island Open Fire Regulations — RI DEM Division of Forest EnvironmentView 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.
All open air fires in Rhode Island require a written permit from the local fire district, regardless of conditions, even in rain or snow. Permits are issued free by local fire departments. During the spring fire period (March 15–May 15), burning is limited to certain hours and is generally only allowed on the lowest fire danger days (Class 1–2). The DEM Division of Forest Environment issues the daily fire danger classification that local departments use to decide whether to issue permits.
Get Rhode Island burning permit ↗Or call the Rhode Island forestry hotline: 401-539-1052
Rhode Island's spring fire season runs mid-March through mid-May, when the absence of deciduous leaf canopy and dry winter-cured grasses create peak fire danger. The western and southern areas of the state near Arcadia Management Area and Burlingame State Park see the highest wildfire frequency. A secondary risk window occurs in October–November.
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 Rhode Island. For the legally binding answer, check the official Rhode Island source: Rhode Island DEM at https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/forest-environment/forest-fire-wildfire-danger-report. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Rhode Island prohibits: Open burning near forest land without a written permit from the local fire district at any time of year; Burning from March 15 through May 15 without strict permit conditions and only before 10:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.; Burning on Class 3, 4, or 5 (High/Very High/Extreme) fire danger days — permits typically not issued; Open burning in communities that have adopted total bans; Burning garbage, construction debris, tires, plastics, and treated wood; Open fires at state campgrounds, parks, and management areas during DEM-issued fire bans; Burning yard waste (fallen leaves, grass clippings) in most municipalities. Typically still allowed: Propane and natural gas grills at any time; Charcoal grills for cooking; Campfires in approved fire rings at state parks and campgrounds when no fire ban is in effect; Open burning of brush and yard debris with a local permit on Class 1 or Class 2 fire danger days; Prescribed burns authorized by DEM with written approval. Always verify the specific order with Rhode Island DEM — 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island DEM before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Rhode Island independently: Rhode Island DEM for statewide or regional orders; Rhode Island has no county governments (counties have had no governmental functions since 1846). Local fire district officials (fire chiefs) issue all open burning permits; the RI DEM Division of Forest Environment provides daily fire danger ratings and issues bans for state-managed lands. 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 Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island's spring fire season runs mid-March through mid-May, when the absence of deciduous leaf canopy and dry winter-cured grasses create peak fire danger. The western and southern areas of the state near Arcadia Management Area and Burlingame State Park see the highest wildfire frequency. A secondary risk window occurs in October–November.
All open air fires in Rhode Island require a written permit from the local fire district, regardless of conditions, even in rain or snow. Permits are issued free by local fire departments. During the spring fire period (March 15–May 15), burning is limited to certain hours and is generally only allowed on the lowest fire danger days (Class 1–2). The DEM Division of Forest Environment issues the daily fire danger classification that local departments use to decide whether to issue permits.
Violating a Rhode Island burn ban can result in: Violation of R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-12-6 (open burning without permit near forest land) — punishable under state law; First offense municipal ordinance violation — typically $100 fine (e.g., Woonsocket); Second offense within one calendar year — typically $200 fine; DEM civil penalties for state park/forest violations; Liability for all fire suppression costs if fire escapes control.
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 Rhode Island. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Rhode Island DEM at https://dem.ri.gov/natural-resources-bureau/agriculture-and-forest-environment/forest-environment/forest-fire-wildfire-danger-report for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Rhode Island 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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