Initial attack activity yesterday was heavy, with 309 new fires reported. Firefighters are working to suppress and contain 84 large fires across the country, including nine new large incidents since yesterday. A total of 26,036 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire activity, including 582 crews, 1,501 engines, and 168 helicopters.
So far this year, 43,145 fires have burned more than 4.5 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 with 45 uncontained large fires and 18 Complex Incident Management Teams assigned in Oregon and Washington.
One 15-member incident management team and 59 fireline management personnel from Australia and New Zealand are assigned to support large fires in the Northwest. Four MAFFS aircraft and their support personnel continue to operate out of Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Redding, California.
Fire weather concerns today include the potential for new ignitions from isolated to scattered dry and mixed wet/dry thunderstorms across portions of the Great Basin and northern Rockies, including southern Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. Hot, dry conditions will persist across much of the West, with above-normal temperatures and low relative humidity across California, the Great Basin, and the Southwest as monsoonal moisture continues to weaken. High-risk burn environments are expected across portions of north Texas and western Oklahoma due to persistently very hot temperatures.
Weather
Isolated dry thunderstorms may be ongoing this morning across southern Idaho, with isolated to scattered mixed wet/dry thunderstorms expected this afternoon from Utah into much of Wyoming and portions of Montana with some new ignitions possible. No thunderstorms are expected in the Northwest amid minimum RH of 10-20% except for a very slight chance of a thunderstorm in the Blue Mountains. Isolated to scattered wet monsoon thunderstorms continue in the Southwest and Colorado. Temperatures near to slightly below normal will be common in the Northwest, while hot temperatures (85-100°F) are expected across eastern Montana northeast Wyoming, the Dakotas to Minnesota while very hot temperatures (95-110°F) continue in the southern Plains. Slight cooling is expected in the Lower Mississippi Valley due to a weak cold front that will result in isolated thunderstorms and possibly a few new ignitions. Temperatures will trend 5-15°F above normal Southwest as the monsoon weakens, with similar above normal temperatures in most of California and the Great Basin and low afternoon RH. Farther east, cooler conditions along much of the East Coast. Scattered thunderstorms in South Georgia and Florida which will continue to bring temporary relief. High-risk significant fire potential for burn environment in portions of north Texas and western Oklahoma amid persistently very hot temperatures. Increased winds are expected near the Hawai’i as Tropical Storm Fausto passes to the north of the islands.
