Firefighters are working to suppress and contain 44 large fires across the country. 15,150 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire activity, including 316 crews, 952 engines, and 143 helicopters. New large incidents were reported in seven geographic areas and many responders are working with active or extreme fire behavior.
So far this year, 38,956 fires have burned more than 3.5 million acres across the United States.
Two MAFFS (modular airborne firefighting system) C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing (CA Air National Guard) have been deployed to San Bernardino, CA and Santa Maria, CA to support wildland fire operations nationally.
Meteorologists predict hot temperatures today in the central and northern west, while the southwest expects some relief in the form of monsoonal rains. No matter what the weather is doing in your area, make sure you are practicing good fire safety and not contributing new starts to an already busy summer for firefighters and support personnel. Everyone can help reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. Check local fire restrictions before recreating outdoors, avoid parking vehicles on dry grass, ensure trailer chains are secured, and fully extinguish campfires before leaving them.
Weather
Above normal temperatures will combine with breezy southwest to west winds at 12-22 mph with gusts to 30 mph and afternoon relative humidities of 5-15% to elevate fire weather conditions across parts of the northern Great Basin, northeastern California, southeastern Oregon, Northern Rockies, and the western tier of the Dakotas. Extreme heat is expected over the lower elevations of the Intermountain West, Northern Great Plains, and northwestern Great Lakes. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue to work their way northward into parts of the Southwest as monsoonal moisture advances northward out of Mexico. Further to the east, scattered storms are possible over the north central Great Lakes with a better chance of showers and storms over the south central and southeastern U.S. Hot and breezy conditions are expected along the coast of the Carolinas and southward into parts of Florida elevating fire potential once again outside of any thunderstorms that develop. Very warm and mainly dry conditions will continue across the majority of the Great Lakes including northeast Minnesota. Warm temperatures will persist across the eastern Interior of Alaska while cooler conditions prevail over the western half of the state.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
