Firefighters are working to suppress and contain 72 large fires across the country, including 5 new large incidents since yesterday. Meanwhile, they responded to 118 new starts yesterday in reported total, testament to their success in the initial attack phase. 20,939 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire activity, including 446 crews, 1,127 engines, and 125 helicopters.
So far this year, 40,989 fires have burned more than 3.9 million acres across the United States. The Northwest Geographic Area continues to identify new starts and currently has 27 large fires. Air quality impacts continue to occur nationwide, although which areas are more affected has shifted throughout the week. Forecasts for some of the most affected areas are available via https://fire.airnow.gov.
Two MAFFS C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the 302nd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve, CO) have been deployed to Klamath Falls, OR. One MAFFS C-130 airtanker and support personnel from the 153rd Airlift Wing (WY Air National Guard) has been deployed to San Bernardino, CA. One MAFFS C-130 airtanker and support personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing (CA Air National Guard) has been deployed to Santa Maria, CA to support wildland fire operations nationally.
While many of the current large wildland fires were ignited by lightning strikes, about 85% of wildfire starts are caused by people, which means that they are avoidable. Major causes of these fires include loss of control of debris burning, unattended or unextinguished campfires, and sparks or heat transfer from vehicles and equipment like chainsaws or recreational vehicles. Become a part of the solution by going to extra mile to be fire safe on our public lands. Recreate Responsibly: Wildfire Edition
Weather
Scattered showers and a mix of wet and dry thunderstorms will spread across the Southwest and Great Basin, extending north into the central Idaho Mountains. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible across much of Arizona, western New Mexico, Utah, and eastern Nevada. Farther west, isolated thunderstorms, some capable of producing little rainfall, are possible across the southern Cascades, while hot, dry conditions persist from the northern Cascades through the Northern Rockies and Great Plains. A cold front moving across the Northeast will support widespread thunderstorms and localized flash flooding from the Upper Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic. Behind the front, strong northerly winds will develop across Minnesota and the Upper Great Lakes. Meanwhile, a tropical depression over the Gulf of America will continue to supply deep moisture and energy for heavy rainfall along the eastern Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic states. Strong winds are also expected across South Florida and the Carolina coast, where limited rainfall may contribute to elevated fire potential.
