Initial attack activity yesterday was light, with 135 new fires reported. Firefighters are working to suppress and contain 87 large fires across the country, including seven new large incidents since yesterday. A total of 26,675 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire activity, including 566 crews, 1,599 engines, and 195 helicopters.
So far this year, 44,004 fires have burned more than 4.8 million acres across the United States, exceeding the 10-year average for both the number of fires and acres burned. Fire activity continues to be elevated in the Northwest Geographic Area, which remains at Preparedness Level 5. New large incidents were reported in the Northern Rockies, Great Basin, Southern, and Rocky Mountain Geographic Areas.
Although July is coming to a close, historically August brings continued potential for large fire activity across portions of the West. Fire managers remain focused on maintaining readiness for new starts while supporting ongoing incidents.
The public plays an important role in preventing new wildfires. Before heading outdoors, check local fire restrictions, use caution with equipment and campfires, and ensure trailer chains, vehicles, and other equipment do not create sparks. Taking simple precautions can help reduce human-caused ignitions and allow firefighting resources to remain focused on existing incidents.
Weather
Dangerously hot temperatures will expand across the southern half of California, the southern Great Basin, and the Southwest, with highs at lower elevations ranging from 105°F to 120°F, and locally up to 125°F. Temperatures near or above 100°F will spread northward through northern California, the northern Great Basin, the West Slope, and Montana, east of the Divide. In the Northwest, maximum temperatures will climb to 5 to 15 degrees above normal, generally in the 85-95°F range. Well-above-normal temperatures will persist in the southern Plains, while the Upper Midwest, western Great Lakes, and Northeast experience near- to below- normal temperatures. Very dry conditions will accompany the heat, with minimum RH between 3% and 15% for much of inland California, the Great Basin, southwest Wyoming, and the West Slope. The Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies will see RH drop to 10-20%, though winds will generally remain light. An uptick in mainly wet thunderstorms is expected from the Front Range into the eastern half of New Mexico, while pronounced drying takes place across much of Arizona. Elsewhere, thunderstorms are likely for the Midwest, the Ozark Plateau, and the Lower Mississippi River Valley. A major wind event will develop across the Inland Northwest on Saturday, with strong westerly winds impacting the Northern Rockies and portions of the northern Great Basin Saturday night and Sunday. This unseasonably strong weather system will result in widespread gusts of 35-50 mph with localized gusts exceeding 50 mph for the high terrain. Widespread critical to locally extreme conditions can be expected.
