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
Wisconsin county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking Wisconsin fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official Wisconsin source:
Wisconsin DNRForest fire & burn restrictionsOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when Wisconsin has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in Wisconsin 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 WisBURN mapping application is the Wisconsin DNR's official real-time tool, displaying county-by-county fire danger levels, active DNR burn permit suspensions, wildfire locations, and prescribed burn activity statewide. Data is available in CSV and JSON formats for all 72 counties and updates daily; users can also call 1-888-WIS-BURN after 9 a.m. for current county status.
Wisconsin County Fire Danger & Burn Restrictions — Wisconsin DNR WisBURNView 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.
DNR burn permits are free and issued annually to individuals (non-transferable). Permits are available instantly online at apps.dnr.wi.gov/burnpermits/ using only an email address, or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Permits are required in DNR-designated fire control areas (NR 30 intensive and extensive protection areas) January 1 through May 31 when ground is not snow-covered; in most counties permits are not required June 1 through December 31 except during emergency restrictions. Local municipalities (incorporated cities and villages) are exempt from DNR permit rules but may have stricter local requirements.
Get Wisconsin burning permit ↗Or call the Wisconsin forestry hotline: 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) — available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily for permit status and burn restrictions
Wisconsin's peak fire season runs from snowmelt through green-up, typically March through mid-May, when dead grasses, pine needles, and leaf litter dry quickly after even a few rain-free days and humidity plummets. Northern counties in the Northwoods face the highest wildfire risk due to dense conifer stands and later spring green-up. A secondary fall fire window occurs September through November, with prescribed burns and debris fires common in October and 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 Wisconsin. For the legally binding answer, check the official Wisconsin source: Wisconsin DNR at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/ForestFire. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, Wisconsin prohibits: All open burning without a valid DNR burn permit in DNR forest fire protection areas (NR 30 intensive/extensive zones) when ground is not snow-covered; Burning garbage, wet rubbish, oily substances, asphalt, plastics, or rubber products at any time (Wis. Admin. Code NR 429); Burning painted or chemically treated wood; Burning yard waste and recyclable materials (paper, cardboard) at commercial, industrial, or municipal facilities under the 1990 Recycling Act; Any burning during DNR permit suspension periods (issued when fire danger is High or Very High); Burning outside permitted hours — generally only after 6 p.m. and must be out by midnight unless local rules differ; Burning piles larger than size limitations set in daily county-specific restriction postings. Typically still allowed: Burning small amounts of dry, unrecyclable household rubbish (unrecyclable paper/cardboard, natural fibers, clean untreated wood) with a free permit; Burning small quantities of dry leaves and plant clippings unless prohibited by local ordinance; Agricultural burning on farm lands (brush, weeds) with permit and under favorable conditions; Firefighter training and equipment testing fires with proper approval; Forest or wildlife habitat management fires with DNR department approval where no reasonable alternative exists. Always verify the specific order with Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin DNR before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in Wisconsin independently: Wisconsin DNR for statewide or regional orders; Fire Chiefs (within their fire district jurisdiction), County Emergency Management offices, and County Fire Chiefs Associations; DNR suspends permits statewide or by county based on fire danger level 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 Wisconsin 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.
Wisconsin's peak fire season runs from snowmelt through green-up, typically March through mid-May, when dead grasses, pine needles, and leaf litter dry quickly after even a few rain-free days and humidity plummets. Northern counties in the Northwoods face the highest wildfire risk due to dense conifer stands and later spring green-up. A secondary fall fire window occurs September through November, with prescribed burns and debris fires common in October and November.
DNR burn permits are free and issued annually to individuals (non-transferable). Permits are available instantly online at apps.dnr.wi.gov/burnpermits/ using only an email address, or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Permits are required in DNR-designated fire control areas (NR 30 intensive and extensive protection areas) January 1 through May 31 when ground is not snow-covered; in most counties permits are not required June 1 through December 31 except during emergency restrictions. Local municipalities (incorporated cities and villages) are exempt from DNR permit rules but may have stricter local requirements.
Violating a Wisconsin burn ban can result in: First offense — failing to extinguish a fire before leaving: forfeiture up to $100 (Wis. Stat. § 26.14); Subsequent offenses — failing to extinguish: fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to 30 days; Allowing fire to escape and become a forest fire: fine up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to 90 days (Wis. Stat. § 26.14); Setting fire on marsh to drive game birds or animals: fine up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment up to 90 days; Civil liability for all fire suppression costs and property damages from an improperly controlled fire.
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 Wisconsin. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor Wisconsin DNR at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/ForestFire for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official Wisconsin 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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