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
Virginia county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Virginia fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Virginia source:
Virginia Dept of Forestry4 PM burning lawOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Virginia has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Virginia 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.
Virginia DOF publishes open burning regulations and any active burn bans.
Virginia Burn Bans — Virginia Department 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.
Virginia does not have a unified statewide online burn permit system for residential open burning; burn permit requirements are set at the county or locality level. Before burning, residents should contact their local fire department, county Fire Marshal, or the nearest VDOF office. Some counties (e.g., Hanover, Roanoke County) offer online burn permit applications. The VDOF 'Before You Burn' page provides guidance on checking local requirements.
Get Virginia burning permit ↗Or call the Virginia forestry hotline: (434) 977-6555
Virginia has two primary fire seasons: spring (February 15–April 30) and fall (October 15–November 30), when dormant or frost-killed vegetation combined with low humidity and strong winds creates rapid fire spread conditions. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest Virginia highlands experience some of the highest fire danger, where steep terrain accelerates fire behavior and complicates suppression access. Spring is generally more active statewide, while fall fires in the mountain regions can be particularly intense during drought years.
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 Virginia. For the legally binding answer, check the official Virginia source: Virginia Dept of Forestry at https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law/. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Virginia prohibits: Open air burning before 4 p.m. between February 15 and April 30 (statewide 4 PM Burning Law) if within 300 feet of woods or dry grass; Burning rubber tires, asphaltic materials, crankcase oil, or other petroleum-based products at any time; Burning hazardous waste or containers for hazardous materials; Burning building, construction, demolition, or trade waste; Open burning in Northern Virginia localities (Loudoun and surrounding areas) from May 1 through September 30 per DEQ seasonal ban; All open burning before midnight when a county-level emergency burn ban is declared; Burning household garbage and refuse at any time under state air quality regulations. Typically still allowed: Open burning after 4 p.m. through midnight during February 15–April 30 with proper precautions (20-ft cleared radius, water/tools on hand, continuous attendance); Fires in enclosed chimineas or fire pits with quarter-inch metal screens (exempt from 4 PM law); Gas and charcoal grills (explicitly exempt from burning law); Campfires in designated campgrounds unless a county emergency ban is in place; Certified Prescribed Burn Manager operations with proper exemption permits. Always verify the specific order with Virginia Dept of 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Dept of Forestry before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Virginia independently: Virginia Dept of Forestry for statewide or regional orders; Board of Supervisors (most counties) — may delegate authority to the County Administrator or Fire Official to declare emergency burn bans via emergency ordinance under Virginia Code § 15.2-1427. Some independent cities vest authority in the City Manager or Fire Marshal. 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 Virginia 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.
Virginia has two primary fire seasons: spring (February 15–April 30) and fall (October 15–November 30), when dormant or frost-killed vegetation combined with low humidity and strong winds creates rapid fire spread conditions. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest Virginia highlands experience some of the highest fire danger, where steep terrain accelerates fire behavior and complicates suppression access. Spring is generally more active statewide, while fall fires in the mountain regions can be particularly intense during drought years.
Virginia does not have a unified statewide online burn permit system for residential open burning; burn permit requirements are set at the county or locality level. Before burning, residents should contact their local fire department, county Fire Marshal, or the nearest VDOF office. Some counties (e.g., Hanover, Roanoke County) offer online burn permit applications. The VDOF 'Before You Burn' page provides guidance on checking local requirements.
Violating a Virginia burn ban can result in: Violation of the 4 PM Burning Law (Feb 15–Apr 30): Class 3 misdemeanor, fine up to $500 per offense; Starting a fire that escapes due to violation of burning law: liable to Commonwealth for full suppression costs regardless of precautions; Violation of local emergency burn ban ordinance: typically a Class 1 misdemeanor under local code, fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail; Arson or reckless burning causing damage: felony charges possible under Virginia Code § 18.2-77 through § 18.2-88; Burning prohibited materials (hazardous waste, tires): civil penalties under DEQ air quality regulations up to $25,000 per day.
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 Virginia. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Virginia Dept of Forestry at https://dof.virginia.gov/wildland-prescribed-fire/fire-laws/4-pm-burning-law/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Virginia 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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