09/07/2026
Why Fire Restrictions Can Differ Between Areas
You may notice that fire danger levels and Public Use Restrictions can differ between areas, even when those areas are relatively close to one another.
Why?
Different land management agencies have different jurisdictions, responsibilities and processes for evaluating fire danger and establishing restrictions. DFPA can speak to how we evaluate conditions and make decisions for the lands within our protection area.
How Does DFPA Determine Fire Danger?
DFPA does not base fire danger on a single weather event or observation. We evaluate multiple indicators to understand current and expected wildfire potential, including:
Energy Release Component (ERC)
An indicator of the potential energy available to a fire based on fuel and environmental conditions. Higher ERC values generally indicate that fires have greater potential to become intense and difficult to control.
Fuel Moisture
Measures how much moisture is contained in vegetation and other fuels. Drier fuels ignite more easily and can burn more readily.
Relative Humidity
Helps indicate how quickly fuels can gain or lose moisture. Lower humidity generally means fuels dry more quickly and become easier to ignite.
Precipitation
We consider the amount, timing and effectiveness of recent precipitation. Rain does not automatically mean fuels are fully rehydrated, and its effects can vary depending on the amount received and conditions that follow.
We also consider temperature, wind, forecasted weather, current fuel conditions and other factors.
These indicators are considered together to determine whether conditions warrant increasing, maintaining or reducing fire danger levels and associated Public Use Restrictions.
Fire danger is dynamic, and our restrictions change with the conditions.
LOW Does Not Mean “No Restrictions”
A LOW fire danger level does not mean wildfire risk has disappeared or that all activities are permitted.
Under current DFPA LOW Public Use Restrictions:
Open burning, including debris burning, is prohibited.
Warming fires are prohibited.
Campfires are only allowed in designated locations.
Other activities and ignition sources may also be prohibited or subject to specific requirements under the current restrictions.
Public Use Restrictions are designed to reduce unnecessary human caused wildfire risk while allowing activities that can reasonably be conducted safely under current conditions.
Finding the Right Balance
Wildfire prevention is not only about restricting activities. It is also about reducing fuels and protecting communities.
When conditions allow, DFPA seeks to maintain opportunities for residents to safely mow dry vegetation, maintain defensible space and conduct other fuel mitigation activities.
There is a balance between restricting activities that create unnecessary wildfire risk and allowing responsible activities that help reduce fuels.
Our goal is not to keep restrictions as low or as high as possible.
Our goal is to establish restrictions that are appropriate for the conditions.
As conditions improve, restrictions may be reduced. As conditions become more hazardous, restrictions may increase.
Remember
Restriction levels can differ between jurisdictions. Always check the current restrictions for the specific land where you are working or recreating.
Know the conditions.
Know the restrictions.
Prevent wildfires.
