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
Washington county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Washington fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Washington source:
Washington DNRStatewide burn restrictionsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Washington has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Washington 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 Washington Department of Natural Resources Burn Portal publishes daily burn restriction status by county for all lands under DNR fire protection jurisdiction, including state forests, DNR-managed forestlands, and DNR campgrounds. County-level air quality burn bans are issued separately by the applicable Clean Air Agency (Puget Sound, Northwest, Olympic Region, or Eastern Washington) and are tracked by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Washington State Burn Bans — WA DNR Burn PortalView 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.
Washington DNR burn permits are required for debris burning on lands under DNR fire protection and are issued through the online Burn Portal at burnportal.dnr.wa.gov. Users must create a SAW (Secure Access Washington) account to apply. Permit fees are based on landowner-calculated tonnage using the Piled Fuels Biomass and Emissions Calculator. For questions or issues, applicants may call 360-902-2100 or email dnrburnportal@dnr.wa.gov. Air quality burn bans issued by regional Clean Air Agencies operate independently and may restrict burning even when a DNR permit is active.
Get Washington burning permit ↗Or call the Washington forestry hotline: 1-800-527-3305
Washington's wildfire season typically begins in early July and peaks in August and September, though the exact timing varies sharply by geography. Eastern Washington — east of the Cascades with its mix of grasslands, shrub-steppe, and ponderosa pine forests — accounts for roughly 70% of the state's annual wildfires and faces severe conditions from June through October. Western Washington sees far fewer wildfires but is experiencing increasing risk as summer dry spells lengthen; western counties typically see the highest danger from mid-July through early October before fall rains return.
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 Washington. For the legally binding answer, check the official Washington source: Washington DNR at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/burn-restrictions. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Washington prohibits: All outdoor debris burning (residential yard waste, land clearing slash) during an active DNR burn restriction on DNR-protected lands (RCW 76.04); Campfires and open fires at DNR campgrounds during a burn restriction; Burning without a valid DNR burn permit on lands under DNR fire protection (RCW 76.04.205); Burning any rubber products, plastic, asphalt, garbage, dead animals, petroleum products, paints, or similar materials at any time (WAC 332-24-205); Leaving any fire unattended — a person capable of extinguishing the fire must be present at all times; Any burning that obscures visibility on public roads or highways through smoke; Reckless burning causing damage to property or lands (RCW 76.04.740 — gross misdemeanor). Typically still allowed: Propane and natural gas grills and cooking appliances (not regulated under DNR burn restrictions); Campfires in developed campground fire rings at state parks when not under restriction (check WA State Parks separately); Burning with a valid DNR burn permit on days authorized by DNR district staff; Certified prescribed burns conducted under DNR Certified Burner Program with approved burn plan. Always verify the specific order with Washington DNR — 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 Washington 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 Washington DNR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Washington independently: Washington DNR for statewide or regional orders; County Fire Marshal (in consultation with Board of County Commissioners, County Manager, and local Clean Air Agency). DNR may also impose restrictions unilaterally on all DNR-protected lands regardless of county action. Regional Clean Air Agencies (Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, Northwest Clean Air Agency, Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency) issue air quality burn bans independently. 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 Washington 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.
Washington's wildfire season typically begins in early July and peaks in August and September, though the exact timing varies sharply by geography. Eastern Washington — east of the Cascades with its mix of grasslands, shrub-steppe, and ponderosa pine forests — accounts for roughly 70% of the state's annual wildfires and faces severe conditions from June through October. Western Washington sees far fewer wildfires but is experiencing increasing risk as summer dry spells lengthen; western counties typically see the highest danger from mid-July through early October before fall rains return.
Washington DNR burn permits are required for debris burning on lands under DNR fire protection and are issued through the online Burn Portal at burnportal.dnr.wa.gov. Users must create a SAW (Secure Access Washington) account to apply. Permit fees are based on landowner-calculated tonnage using the Piled Fuels Biomass and Emissions Calculator. For questions or issues, applicants may call 360-902-2100 or email dnrburnportal@dnr.wa.gov. Air quality burn bans issued by regional Clean Air Agencies operate independently and may restrict burning even when a DNR permit is active.
Violating a Washington burn ban can result in: Burning in violation of DNR burn restriction without a permit: misdemeanor under RCW 76.04.205, up to $1,000 fine and 90 days jail; Reckless burning (RCW 76.04.740): gross misdemeanor, up to $5,000 fine and 364 days jail; Willful setting of fire on or near forest lands (RCW 76.04.710): Class C felony, up to $10,000 fine and 5 years prison; DNR may charge and recover full fire suppression costs from persons responsible for illegal fires; Clean Air Agency violations for air quality burn ban: civil fines up to $10,000 per day per violation.
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 Washington. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Washington DNR at https://www.dnr.wa.gov/burn-restrictions for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Washington 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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