National Fire News

National Preparedness Level 1 

as of October 13, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. MDT (on a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050

This report will be updated on Fridays.
Please check the IMSR for more information.

March 22, 2024

26 new large fires were reported this week. Virginia had numerous significant starts this week, with active fire and structures threatened. North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and West Virginia also have uncontained large wildfires. Complex incident management teams are assigned to the Rocky Branch and Waterfall Mountain Fires, both in Virginia.

A high-risk fire weather event is expected across northwest Texas and adjacent areas over the coming weekend, with prolonged periods of high winds and low relative humidity. 

Homeowners and communities play a major role in fire safety. Take simple measures such as keeping streets and roads clear, so fire engines can safely maneuver, and residents can evacuate quickly if needed. Make sure fire hydrants are visible and accessible. Clear flammable vegetation around structures, on large lots, and along roadsides. These simple prevention measures go a long way in making communities more fire safe. 

Visit the NIFC website prevention page to learn how you can plan and prepare for wildfires and prevent unwanted human-caused fires: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation.

    Weather

    Breezy southwest winds are forecast for the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic today, but relative humidity will increase, with widespread rain forecast for much of the Southeast, Appalachians, and East Coast tonight into Saturday. A fast-moving storm will also bring snow to the Great Lakes and rain to the Ohio Valley today, with snow in northern New England tomorrow. A large Pacific storm will move across the West this weekend with widespread precipitation, falling as snow in the mountains. As this storm emerges onto the Plains, strong southwesterly winds and dry conditions are forecast for the southern High Plains with elevated to critical fire weather conditions. Widespread precipitation will fall across the rest of the Plains into the Mississippi Valley early next week with this storm, with heavy snow and blizzard conditions possible for the northern Plains and portions of Minnesota. Another round of widespread rain is likely for the Appalachians to East Coast mid to late next week as this storm continues moving eastward. A second Pacific storm will bring rain and mountain snow to the northern two-thirds of the West mid to late next week, with strong westerly winds likely across much of the Southwest into the southern Plains. Much of central and eastern Interior Alaska will remain mild and dry the next week with continued storms for southwest Alaska. 

    Daily statistics
    Number of new large fires or emergency response

    * New fires are identified with an asterisk
    27 States currently reporting large fires:
    Number of active large fires
    Total does not include individual fires within complexes.
    9
    Acres from active fires 6,332
    Fires contained 30
    Year-to-date statistics
    2024 (1/1/24-3/22/24) Fires: 3,892 Acres: 1,623,021
    2023 (1/1/23-3/22/23) Fires: 6,789 Acres: 84,526
    2022 (1/1/22-3/22/22) Fires: 13,471 Acres: 425,999
    2021 (1/1/21-3/22/21) Fires: 8,690 Acres: 221,060
    2020 (1/1/20-3/22/20) Fires: 5,303 Acres: 108,729
    2019 (1/1/19-3/22/19) Fires: 3,764 Acres: 97,792
    2018 (1/1/18-3/22/18) Fires: 9,649 Acres: 393,814
    2017 (1/1/17-3/22/17) Fires: 11,978 Acres: 1,797,480
    2016 (1/1/16-3/22/16) Fires: 7,530 Acres: 339,183
    2015 (1/1/15-3/22/15) Fires: 7,821 Acres: 133,687
    2014 (1/1/14-3/22/14) Fires: 9,592 Acres: 134,950
    10-year average Year-to-Date
    2014-2023 Fires: 8,268 Acres: 371,953
    Current Wildfires
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 2
    Contained: 2
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Erickton Drive

    Edit
    Alabama Forestry Commission

    Edit
    ST 440 100
    * SCK Dry Branch

    Edit
    National Forests in Alabama

    Edit
    USFS 897 100
    Fires: 1
    Acres: 175
    New: 1
    Contained: 0
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Wolfpen Trail

    Edit
    Georgia Forestry Commission

    Edit
    ST 175 25 Nine miles east of Ellijay, GA
    Fires: 1
    Acres: 269
    New: 5
    Contained: 4
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Yellow Mountain

    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 269 90 Started on private land six miles northeast of Dorton, KY
    * Brushy Creek 1

    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 113 100
    * Brushy Creek 2

    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 144 100
    * Brushy Creek 3

    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 121 100
    * Kentucky 611

    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 129 100
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 1
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Mound Springs

    Edit

    Edit

    343 100
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 1
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Billy Road

    Edit
    National Forests in Mississippi

    Edit
    USFS 1,750 100
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 4
    Contained: 4
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Bethel

    Edit
    Mark Twain National Forest

    Edit
    USFS 240 100
    * Diamond

    Edit
    Mark Twain National Forest

    Edit
    USFS 101 100
    * Mayfield

    Edit
    Mark Twain National Forest

    Edit
    USFS 182 100
    * Rail Road

    Edit

    Edit

    250 100
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 1
    Contained: 2
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    Horseshoe Lake

    Edit
    North Carolina Forest Service

    Edit
    ST 579 100 Fourteen miles north of Elizabethtown, NC
    * Morton Rd

    Edit

    Edit

    110 100
    Fires: 1
    Acres: 180
    New: 4
    Contained: 9
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Rooster

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 180 50 Thirteen miles northeast of Sallisaw, OK
    Beaver Mtn

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 776 100 Twenty-nine miles northeast of McAlester, OK
    Cimarron Bluff

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 4,113 100 Two miles east of Selman, OK
    * Denison Hollow

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 580 100
    Flying G

    Edit
    Okmulgee Field Office

    Edit
    BIA 1,110 100
    Frisco Line

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 125 100 Twenty-nine miles southeast of McAlester, OK
    * Lost Arrow

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 120 100
    * Round Springs

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 217 100
    Salt Fork

    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 210 100 Seven miles south of Jay, OK
    Spent

    Edit
    Cherokee Nation Tribe

    Edit
    BIA 1,126 100 Nine miles south of Jay, OK
    Fires: 2
    Acres: 1,531
    New: 6
    Contained: 7
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    Brushy Knob

    Edit
    George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

    Edit
    USFS 500 75
    Rocky Branch

    Edit
    Shenandoah National Park

    Edit
    NPS 1,031 85 Four miles east of Luray, VA
    * 24ER00310

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 100 100
    * Coal Mine

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 200 100
    * Crooked Run

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 100 100
    * Shenandoah

    Edit

    Edit

    120 100
    Taylor’s Gap

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 260 100 Seven miles northeast of Crozet, VA
    * West Briar

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 980 100
    * Yeawood

    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 200 100
    Fires: 4
    Acres: 4,177
    New: 2
    Contained: 0
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Dove Hollow

    Edit

    Edit

    2,950 10 Started on private land one mile northeast of Mathias, WV
    Grace Mountain

    Edit
    West Virginia Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 600 20 Two miles southeast of Milam, WV
    * Old 52

    Edit
    West Virginia Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 127 91 Started on private land one mile northeast of Laeger, WV
    Spring Run

    Edit
    West Virginia Division of Forestry

    Edit
    ST 500 75 Five miles southeast of Petersburg, WV