Yesterday, initial attack was light with 53 new fires reported nationwide, including two new large incidents. Firefighters are currently working to contain 50 uncontained large fires across the country. There are over 12,000 personnel assigned to incidents, including 229 crews, 625 engines, and 70 helicopters.
Year-to-date, 56,289 fires have burned more than 8.5 million acres, 126% of the 10-year average number of fires and 146% of the average acres burned for this date.
Wildland fire response doesn't stop on the weekends. Firefighters, dispatchers, aviation crews, and support staff remain on duty to respond to new starts and ongoing incidents. If recreation and travel plans are on your list this weekend, make prevention and awareness a top priority. Staying fire-safe helps protect firefighters, communities, and the places where people gather to enjoy time outdoors.
Weather
Hot temperatures with highs near 100°F continue across the southern Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley today, and widespread above normal temperatures will spread east into the southern Appalachians. Minimum relative humidity is expected to be 20-35% from the southern Plains to the Lower Mississippi Valley, with breezy south winds of 15-20 mph in the southern Plains creating areas of elevated conditions. Relative humidity will remain low in the Mojave Desert to southern Nevada today, but winds will be lighter than the past two days and generally near or less than 10 mph. Widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms will develop in central Idaho to the northern Rockies, while abundant cloud cover continues in the Greater Four Corners with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Cool temperatures will continue in California while temperatures remain slightly above normal in Washington.
