The Arkansas burn ban map is a free, color-coded tool from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division that shows current wildfire danger and active burn bans for all 75 counties in real time.1Arkansas.gov. State Burn Ban Map County judges issue and lift bans as drought and wind conditions change, so a county’s status can shift day to day.2Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Burn Bans, Wildfire Danger and Prescribed Burns Burning in a county that shows an active ban is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,500, and if the fire escapes you can also owe suppression costs and double the damages to anyone harmed.
How to Read the Map
The map uses five tiers rather than a simple on/off display:
- Low: minimal fire risk, and outdoor burning is generally permitted where no local ban exists.
- Moderate: some wildfire potential, so caution is warranted.
- High: fires are likely to ignite and may be difficult to control in heavy fuels or windy conditions.
- Extreme: fires start easily and can spread rapidly.
- Burn Ban: the county judge has formally declared a ban, and outdoor burning in that county is illegal.
Only the “Burn Ban” tier makes burning a crime. The other tiers are warnings about conditions. Bookmark the page if you regularly burn brush or yard debris, because checking it before you light anything is the easiest way to avoid a misdemeanor charge.
Who Declares a Ban and How Long It Lasts
Burn bans come from county judges acting under Arkansas’s emergency management statute, which lets the chief executive of a political subdivision declare a local disaster emergency.3Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-108 – Local Disaster Emergencies – Declaration The state’s unlawful burning statute specifically references bans declared under that provision.4Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning
A declaration cannot exceed 120 days unless the quorum court votes to extend it, and most bans last far less.3Justia. Arkansas Code 12-75-108 – Local Disaster Emergencies – Declaration The county judge can lift a ban as soon as rainfall or cooler weather reduces the danger, and the Forestry Division map updates when that happens.
What Is Prohibited When a Ban Is Active
If your county shows “Burn Ban,” setting fire to any forest, brush, or flammable material outdoors is illegal.4Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning That reaches the things most people are doing when they get cited:
- Burning leaves, brush piles, and fallen limbs
- Burning land-clearing debris
- Recreational fires, including fire pits and campfires
- Burning crop residue, with the narrow exception noted below
Contained gas grills and charcoal cookers used for cooking are generally not treated as “outdoor burning” under most county proclamations, since the flame is enclosed or shielded. Individual county orders can vary, so read the specific proclamation if you’re unsure.
Exceptions and Permits
Arkansas law gives two defenses to an unlawful burning charge during a ban. One is a permit from the chief executive of the political subdivision that issued the ban, typically the county judge’s office; these are not handed out freely during dangerous conditions, but they exist for situations where burning is genuinely necessary.4Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning
The other is for farmers burning crop remainders on their own land after harvest, but only if they perform adequate disking of field perimeters or other safety measures required by the county burn ban officer. Skip the safety buffer and the defense disappears.4Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning
Criminal Penalty for Burning During a Ban
Unlawful burning is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor level in Arkansas.4Justia. Arkansas Code 5-38-310 – Unlawful Burning The maximum fine is $2,500, with court costs and fees on top of that, and a conviction goes on your criminal record.5Justia. Arkansas Code 5-4-201 – Fines – Limitations on Amount Law enforcement can cite you the moment they discover an unauthorized fire during an active ban. The fire doesn’t have to spread or cause damage; the burning itself is the offense.
Civil Liability If the Fire Escapes
The criminal fine is often the smaller financial hit. Arkansas law declares any uncontrolled fire on forested, brushland, or grassland a public nuisance, and if the Forestry Commission or another organized suppression force has to put your fire out, you are liable for all reasonable suppression costs. Fail to pay within 90 days of being invoiced and the state can sue to recover.6Justia. Arkansas Code 20-22-303 – Public Nuisance
Damage to someone else’s property is where the numbers get serious. Under Arkansas fire law, a person responsible for a fire that causes damage to another person must pay double the actual damages, recoverable through a civil lawsuit.7Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Arkansas Code – Fire Law If an illegal burn escapes and destroys $10,000 worth of a neighbor’s timber, you owe $20,000, on top of the suppression bill and your criminal fine.
National Forests Follow a Separate System
If you plan to camp or recreate in the Ozark-St. Francis or Ouachita National Forests, the U.S. Forest Service imposes its own fire restrictions independent of county burn bans. Stage I restrictions generally prohibit campfires outside developed recreation sites and restrict smoking to enclosed vehicles or cleared areas. Stage II is more severe, banning all campfires, fireworks, welding, off-road driving, and even chainsaw use during afternoon and evening hours. Both stages usually exempt stoves fueled solely by liquid petroleum or LPG.
A county burn ban does not automatically trigger federal restrictions, and federal restrictions don’t automatically apply on private land. Check the state burn ban map and the local ranger district’s posted orders before you go.