Fire Weather Zone 6
about 51% of the county (approximate)
Low
Penobscot County, Maine
No Restrictions Most restrictive fire-danger area
Verified Maine has no county-declared burn bans — status reflects the Maine Forest Service's daily fire-danger class for the Fire Weather Zone(s) covering this county. A permit from your Town Fire Warden is required for any out-of-door fire regardless of status. Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report ↗
In effect since
Aug 16, 2026
Expires
—
Issued by
Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report
Last verified
Aug 21, 2026
Penobscot county spans 5 Fire Weather Zones
The Maine Forest Service publishes one fire-danger class per zone each day. Town Fire Wardens use that class to decide whether to issue burn permits that day — the class itself isn't a standing order, and can change daily.
Fire Weather Zone 7
about 24% of the county (approximate)
Low
Fire Weather Zone 5
about 13% of the county (approximate)
Low
Fire Weather Zone 3
about 10% of the county (approximate)
Low
Fire Weather Zone 2
about 3% of the county (approximate)
Low
What this means
The wording in each area above is Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report's own, and it is the authority for what you may burn on the land it covers. Two further systems apply on top:
Your county and fire district
They set their own outdoor burning rules and can go further than the state. Call your fire district before you burn.
Air-quality burn bans
Air-quality burn bans can apply separately from fire-risk restrictions, called on their own schedule based on conditions rather than fire danger. Check with your local air-quality agency.
Penalties in Maine
Under 12 M.R.S. § 9321, out-of-door burning without a required permit, or in violation of a permit's stated conditions, is a Class E crime — Maine's lowest felony-adjacent tier, punishable under 17-A M.R.S. §§ 1252 and 1704 by up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. If the fire causes fire-suppression costs to a municipality or the state, a court can additionally order restitution of up to $25,000 to a single municipality, or up to $125,000 combined across municipal and state government.
Classification: Class E crime · Maximum fine: up to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail, plus restitution up to $25,000 (municipality) / $125,000 (combined) for suppression costs
Recent status history
- Aug 12, 2026 — No Restrictions
Sources & audit log
| Checked | Source | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2026 | Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report ↗ | status: No Restrictions |
Neighbouring counties
Notify me when this changes
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Gear for burning safely
Open burning is currently permitted in Penobscot county, and the gear below helps keep a legal fire contained: barrels and pits that hold embers in one place, plus something to put a fire out with. Local rules on containment, distance and burn hours still apply — confirm those before you light.
Contained burn barrels
A lidded, spark-arrestor barrel keeps embers where you put them and makes a debris burn easier to control from start to finish.
Marabuut30-Inch Corten Steel Burn Barrel with Mesh LidMesh lid helps contain sparks and embers. Airflow vents, sturdy base, handles for ash removal.View on Amazon 
AURENZOStainless Steel Burn Cage with Removable Ash CatcherSolid steel lid contains flying embers. 360° ventilation slots and a slide-out ash tray.View on Amazon Patio fire pits with spark screens
A screened pit keeps a recreational fire in one place on a patio or lawn, and the screen catches embers before they travel.
Fire extinguishers
Worth keeping within arm's reach of any outdoor fire, whatever today's status says.
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Limits of this information
burnbanradar reads public burn-ban orders as published by Maine Forest Service — Wildfire Danger Report and reports them unchanged. Cities and municipalities within Penobscot county may impose stricter rules than the county order. Water districts and state forestry rules may add further restrictions. When an order is ambiguous or the source cannot be reached, we show Unconfirmed instead of guessing a status. The county's own posted order governs.
Common questions
Is Penobscot county under a burn ban right now?
No burn ban is currently reported for Penobscot county. Municipal rules within the county may still restrict burning.
What can I still burn in Penobscot county?
Standard open burning is currently permitted, subject to any municipal ordinance in your area. Never leave a fire unattended, and keep water and a shovel nearby.
How do I report an illegal fire in Penobscot county?
Call 911 for any fire that is out of control or threatens property. For a non-emergency burn-ban violation, you can also reach Maine Forest Service at 1-800-437-1220 (for general inquiries and burn permit questions, not a dedicated wildfire-report line; call 911 to report an active wildfire), or contact the Penobscot Sheriff's Office.