Fire Restrictions
Fire Restrictions and Safety Information
| Public Use Restrictions | Fire Danger Rating | Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPLs) |
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The entire Colville National Forest entered Stage 2 Public Use Restrictions on Friday, August 7, 2026 The following are ALWAYS PROHIBITED: Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device. The use of explosives including exploding targets and incendiary ammunition. Operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed, maintained and in effective working order. Operating a chainsaw or other equipment powered by an internal combustion engine in violation of Industrial Fire Precaution directives (IFPL). State law prohibits operation of chainsaws or industrial equipment outside of IFPL requirements | Current Fire Danger Information
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Table Definitions *Public Use Restrictions limit certain activities to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. These rules typically affect recreation activities such as having campfires, smoking, driving off-road, using generators or other internal combustion engines, and operating chainsaws for recreation. A campfire is defined as a fire, not within any building, mobile home, or living accommodation mounted on a motor vehicle, which is used for cooking, personal warmth, lighting, ceremonial, or esthetic purposes. *Fire Danger Ratings help give people an idea about how easily fires start and spread. It takes into account weather, fuel types (grasses, brush, timber, snags, etc.), and fuels moisture. *Industrial Fire Precaution Levels are used by the Forest Service to minimize wildfire risk for commercial and industrial activities, such as timber harvest operations or commercial firewood cutting. |
About Fire Restrictions
What is Prohibited in Stage 1:
- Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire, including a charcoal, and other open flames, except within campfire rings established by the Forest Service at the following posted, developed and designated campgrounds, or other Organizational Camps, Recreation Residences, and Resorts under Special Use Permits.
- However, pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are permitted, provided such devices are used in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material within 3 feet of the device. Device must have a functioning on-off switch or valve that can extinguish the fire immediately.
- Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a designated campground, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Possessing, discharging or using any kind of firework or other pyrotechnic device.
- Using an explosive.
- Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System Roads and Trails, except minimum travel over bare mineral soil, to access dispersed camping.
- Violating any state law concerning burning, fires, or which is for the purpose of preventing or restricting the spread of fire.
What is Allowed During Stage 1:
- Campfires in designated recreation sites
- Campfires in designated Wilderness Areas, except specific locations where they are never allowed.
- Shooting firearms. Just make sure to follow the rules always apply -- No shooting within a 150 yards of a campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, residence or building. The use of explosives including exploding targets and incendiary ammunition is always prohibited. No shooting across a road, trail or body of water, or in any manner or place whereby any person property is exposed to injury or damage as a result of such discharge. No shooting in a cave.
FIRES ARE NOT ALLOWED ANYWHERE on the Colville National Forest.
What is Allowed:
- Pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns, or heating devices as long as they are used in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material within 3 feet of the device and have an on/off switch or valve that can extinguish the flame. This includes propane campfires.
What is Prohibited:
- Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including briquette fires, torches or other open flame from solid fuel. Pressurized or bottled liquid fuel stoves, lanterns, or heating devices are permitted, provided such devices are used in areas that are barren or cleared of all overhead and surrounding flammable material within 3 feet of the device. Device must have a functioning on-off switch or valve that can extinguish the fire immediately.
- Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.
- Using an explosive. Explosives are always prohibited.
- Possessing, discharging, or using any type of fireworks. Fireworks are always prohibited.
- Possessing or using a motor vehicle off National Forest System Roads and Trails
- Discharging a firearm, except lawful hunting is permissible. Persons possessing a valid hunting license or exercwho are legally attempting to take game are exempt from this section of the prohibition. [Added to restrictions August 20, 2021]
- Violating any state law concerning burning, fires, or which is for the purpose of preventing or restricting the spread of fire.
The number one reason is to protect human life, property and our natural resources. The smallest spark can turn our dry forest into a dangerous wildfire that can threaten lives and property.
We use certain criteria to determine what stage of fire restrictions to implement, which includes current and predicted weather, how many resources we have available to fight fires, fuel moisture in the forest, fire behavior and containment challenges, as well as several others.
Regardless of what level of fire restrictions we implement, not all fires can be prevented. Fires start from careless forest users, lightning, and inadvertent human-causes.
We live in a fire-adapted ecosystem which depends on fire for its health, so it's never a question of if a wildfire will start, but when and how we will be able to respond to it.
Each year escaped campfires are the leading human cause of wildfires on the Forest. Do not ignore the campfire restrictions! Please report any unattended campfires.
If a fire results from your escaped campfire or the illegal use of fireworks you can be subject to a citation and a fine from $100 up to $5,000 and/or 1 year in jail.
This violation doesn’t just apply if your fire escapes, but also if you “build, maintain, attend or use” a campfire in an area where campfires are not allowed (areas closed to campfire use). You can also be held responsible for fire suppression costs. Suppression efforts are very costly, often running into hundreds of thousands of dollars and more.
Please take note--If we see someone with an illegal campfire, they will receive a ticket.
Fireworks are always illegal on the Forest.