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
Vermont county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Vermont fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Vermont source:
Vermont FPRWildfire situationOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Vermont has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Vermont 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.
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation publishes wildland fire season information and burn ban status; the Vermont DEC Division of Air Quality regulates what materials may be burned. Town Forest Fire Wardens issue all local burn permits (called 'Permit to Kindle'); statewide bans are declared by the State Forester. Vermont has no county governments; all functions are municipal or state-level.
Vermont Open Burning & Wildland Fire — VT DEC & Forests, Parks and RecreationView 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.
Vermont requires a free 'Permit to Kindle' from the Town Forest Fire Warden for all open burning when the ground is not covered with snow. The warden is a locally appointed town official who assesses current conditions and issues daily permission. Contact your town office to find the local warden. Air Quality permits for construction/demolition/commercial waste burning are issued by DEC Air Quality & Climate Division (802-661-8937).
Get Vermont burning permit ↗Or call the Vermont forestry hotline: 802-828-1534
Vermont's wildfire season runs from mid-March through late May, peaking when hardwood forests are leafless before green-up and spring winds are prevalent. The Northeast Kingdom, Champlain Valley hillsides, and Green Mountain foothills see the highest fire activity. Vermont historically has modest fire years compared to southern New England but saw elevated risk during the 2024–2026 drought cycles.
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 Vermont. For the legally binding answer, check the official Vermont source: Vermont FPR at https://fpr.vermont.gov/wildfire-situation. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Vermont prohibits: Burning garbage, refuse, and food waste at any time (burn barrels, home-made incinerators, and pile burning of trash all prohibited); Burning tires, rubber, plastic, waste oil, asphalt materials, asbestos, pressure-treated wood, and painted plywood; Any open burning without a 'Permit to Kindle' from the Town Forest Fire Warden (required when ground is not snow-covered); Burning construction and demolition waste without an Air Quality permit from DEC; Open burning when a statewide burn ban is declared by the State Forester; Commercial wood waste burning without DEC approval. Typically still allowed: Natural wood from property maintenance and brush clearing with a Permit to Kindle from the town warden; Propane and natural gas grills at any time; Charcoal grills for cooking; Campfires in designated areas of state parks and forests when not under a ban; Prescribed burns with written DEC Air Quality permit (commercial/demolition wood waste). Always verify the specific order with Vermont FPR — 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 Vermont 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 Vermont FPR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Vermont independently: Vermont FPR for statewide or regional orders; Vermont has 14 counties but no county governments. All burning permits are issued by Town Forest Fire Wardens (locally appointed). Statewide bans are declared by the Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation (State Forester). 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 Vermont 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.
Vermont's wildfire season runs from mid-March through late May, peaking when hardwood forests are leafless before green-up and spring winds are prevalent. The Northeast Kingdom, Champlain Valley hillsides, and Green Mountain foothills see the highest fire activity. Vermont historically has modest fire years compared to southern New England but saw elevated risk during the 2024–2026 drought cycles.
Vermont requires a free 'Permit to Kindle' from the Town Forest Fire Warden for all open burning when the ground is not covered with snow. The warden is a locally appointed town official who assesses current conditions and issues daily permission. Contact your town office to find the local warden. Air Quality permits for construction/demolition/commercial waste burning are issued by DEC Air Quality & Climate Division (802-661-8937).
Violating a Vermont burn ban can result in: Civil violation under 24 V.S.A. § 2201 — civil penalty up to $800 per violation; Violator may be ordered to perform up to 80 hours of roadside litter collection in lieu of or in addition to fine; Hunting, fishing, and trapping license revocation for 1 year upon conviction for failure to pay penalty; DEC Air Quality violations — civil penalties under Vermont Air Pollution Control Regulations; Civil liability for all fire suppression costs and property damages if fire escapes.
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 Vermont. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Vermont FPR at https://fpr.vermont.gov/wildfire-situation for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Vermont 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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