Wildfire activity is gradually escalating across multiple geographic areas. Yesterday, 86 new fires were reported nationwide, including six new large fires. Currently, 37 large fires are uncontained, with more than 6,700 personnel assigned to incidents across the country, including four complex incident management teams.
So far this year, 35,118 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres nationwide, exceeding the 10-year averages for both fires and acres burned to date. The largest fire currently in the nation is the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, Utah, at 61,137 acres upon this morning’s report. The assigned complex incident management team reports extreme fire behavior, and evacuations are in effect.
If you know that you live in a fire-prone area, there are steps you can take to prepare for the scary situation of a threat to your community. Work with your neighbors to keep streets and roads clear, so fire engines can easily maneuver, and residents can evacuate swiftly if needed. Make sure fire hydrants are visible and accessible. Clear flammable vegetation around structures, on large lots, and along roadsides. Have an evacuation plan with your household, including what essential items you will take with you and where you will meet. Preparedness for fire emergencies is good citizenship and can also give you some peace of mind. Find evacuation-readiness tips at Ready.gov.
Weather
An increase in sunshine and instability today will allow for more numerous thunderstorms to develop across the greater Four Corners and northern Rockies, with a mix of wet and dry thunderstorms west of the Divide and wetter storms to the east. Lightning-ignited fires will be most likely across northern Arizona and New Mexico into southern and eastern Utah, southern and western Colorado and far southern Wyoming. Gusty and erratic outflow winds will accompany this activity. Much drier air will begin to return farther west, extending from southern California through the western Great Basin and interior Northwest. Elevated fire weather with relative humidity below 15% and gusty west to southwest winds could allow for lightning holdovers to emerge. The strongest gusts will occur through the Cascade gaps as cooler air begins to arrive in the Northwest late. Alaska will continue to see warm temperatures and scattered thunderstorms over the western and northern Interior, while overall drier conditions persist farther to the south. Lightning holdovers could emerge there, and across the Southeast from Florida to the coastal Carolinas.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
Approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (34 Miles NW of Cora, WY)
