as of October 10, 2025 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 is currently updated on Fridays.
Please check the IMSR for more information.
January 30, 2026
As January wraps up, national wildland fire activity remains relatively light, with the country at National Preparedness Level 1. Over the past week, firefighters responded to 194 new fires nationwide, most of which were contained quickly through initial attack. While fire activity is quieter in many parts of the country this time of year, conditions and response needs can vary widely by region.
In the Southern Area, where winter fire activity is more common, one large fire remains uncontained in Florida, with firefighters continuing to make progress under moderate fire behavior. Elsewhere, resources are also supporting all-hazard response efforts, including the mobilization of several incident management teams to assist communities affected by Winter Storm Fern in the Southeast. These deployments are a reminder that the wildland fire workforce plays a critical role year-round, supporting communities during fires, storms, and other emergencies.
This time of year also offers space to reflect on preparedness. Fire does not follow a strict calendar, and the work done during the winter months, training, planning, fuels work, and interagency coordination, helps set the stage for safer, more effective responses later in the fire year. Whether it is wildfire or winter weather, it truly takes all of us working together to respond when communities need help most.
Are you thinking about a career in wildland fire in 2026, or know someone who might be? Seasonal firefighting, fire support, and leadership positions are now being advertised on USAJOBS, the federal government’s employment portal. Search “firefighter” or “wildland fire” to explore current opportunities and learn more about working in the wildland fire community.
A rapidly strengthening coastal storm will hit the Carolinas and Virginia this weekend with heavy snow near and east of the Piedmont, strong winds, and coastal flooding. This storm will then move out to sea with locally heavier snow possible in Cape Cod, but lighter amounts for the Northeast coast. Very cold air will spread into the Southeast on the backside of this storm, with record low temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills. Very cold temperatures will continue in the Great Lakes and Northeast through the weekend, as well, followed by milder but still below normal temperatures for the Appalachians and East Coast. Milder conditions are expected on the Plains for much of the next week, with periods of light snow on the northern Plains and a chance of rain in the southern Plains to Lower Mississippi Valley late next week. In the West, an upper-level ridge will strengthen next week, with well above normal temperatures and dry conditions. However, some valleys will experience strong inversions, mainly near the Canadian border. Moderate precipitation is also expected into western Washington through the weekend before the ridge strengthens, with lighter precipitation into western Oregon and east into the northern Rockies. A warming trend will continue across Alaska, with periods of precipitation along the southern coast and panhandle. Most precipitation in the lower elevations near the coast will fall as rain, with freezing rain and snow inland. A couple cold fronts will move through Hawai’i into early next week, with the stronger of the two fronts early next week and widespread rain likely.
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Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
0 | States currently reporting large fires: |
| Total number of large fires | 1 | |
| Acres from all active large fires | 4,816 | |
| Fires contained | 1 |
| 2026 (1/1/26-1/30/26) | Fires: 2,909 | Acres: 34,965 |
| 2025 (1/1/25-1/30/25) | Fires: 2,128 | Acres: 64,038 |
| 2024 (1/1/24-1/30/24) | Fires: 901 | Acres: 4,500 |
| 2023 (1/1/23-1/30/23) | Fires: 1,550 | Acres: 11,841 |
| 2022 (1/1/22-1/30/22) | Fires: 1,570 | Acres: 31,156 |
| 2021 (1/1/21-1/30/21) | Fires: 1,663 | Acres: 31,426 |
| 2020 (1/1/20-1/30/20) | Fires: 1,136 | Acres: 16,791 |
| 2019 (1/1/19-1/30/19) | Fires: 651 | Acres: 6,754 |
| 2018 (1/1/18-1/30/18) | Fires: 2,541 | Acres: 45,783 |
| 2017 (1/1/17-1/30/17) | Fires: 1,703 | Acres: 37,877 |
| 2016 (1/1/16-1/30/16) | Fires: 472 | Acres: 9,965 |
| 2016-2025 | Fires: 1,318 | Acres: 23,591 |
Arizona
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havasu | Lake Havasu Refuges Complex | FWS | 3,868 | 100 | 21 Miles NW of Lake Havasu City, AZ |
Florida
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Lake | National Forests in Florida | USFS | 4,816 | 60 | Seven miles west of Sopchoppy, FL |
