National Fire News

National Preparedness Level 5

as of July 18, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. MDT (on a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Interagency Fire Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday

This report is currently updated daily. 
Please check the IMSR for more information.

August 21, 2026

Yesterday, 136 new fires were reported nationwide, including eight new large fires. Firefighters are currently working to contain 76 large fires, with 24,265 personnel assigned to incidents nationwide. 

The Northwest continues to have the most fire activity in the nation, with 32 fires and six fires more than 100,000 acres in size. All ten geographic areas currently list at least one large fire.  

So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 50,077 wildfires that have burned more than 7.6 million acres across the United States, 129% of the 10-year average for fires and 171% for acres burned. 

Target shooting is a common cause of accidental fire starts in some areas. Always shoot in areas free of dry grass, bushes, or other flammable materials, and use targets that won't spark. Metal targets are notorious for causing sparks that grow into wildfires. Keep a fire extinguisher and/or water nearby just in case. By being cautious and responsible, you can help protect public and private lands from the dangers of wildfire.   

 

Weather

High pressure will continue to amplify over the Western US today, bringing drying and warming conditions to the area, particularly across inland parts of the Pacific Northwest where temperatures are expected to be 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Highs in the 90’s and lower 100’s are forecast across the western half of the country, possibly reaching the lower 110’s over southeast California and western Arizona. The hot temperatures will coincide with relative humidity levels in the single digits and teens in the afternoon and only poor recoveries expected at night. Conditions won’t be quite as dry over the Desert Southwest where lingering monsoonal moisture will result in scattered afternoon thunderstorms. Gusty winds are expected in the afternoon throughout the Great Basin and into southeast Oregon, as well as near thunderstorms. Farther east, the main weather concern will revolve around the unwavering heat across the Southern Plains and Southeast. High temperatures in this area will peak in the 90s to 110F with relative humidity values dropping into the mid-teens to mid 20s. No strong winds are expected in these areas; however, wind gusts of 15-25 mph will be possible over Texas by afternoon. Numerous thunderstorms are also expected across the southeast and this could produce erratic outflow winds and new fire starts over the extremely dry and receptive fuels. 

Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response 
* New fires are identified with an asterisk
8 States currently reporting large fires:
Total number of large fires 76
Acres from all active fires 3,571,843
Fires contained 1
Year-to-date statistics
2026 (1/1/26-8/21/26) Fires: 50,077 Acres: 7,642,082
2025 (1/1/25-8/21/25) Fires: 44,808 Acres: 4,025,601
2024 (1/1/24-8/21/24) Fires: 31,636 Acres: 5,460,015
2023 (1/1/23-8/21/23) Fires: 36,672 Acres: 1,772,898
2022 (1/1/22-8/21/22) Fires: 43,427 Acres: 5,967,808
2021 (1/1/21-8/21/21) Fires: 41,046 Acres: 4,440,787
2020 (1/1/20-8/21/20) Fires: 38,013 Acres: 2,966,224
2019 (1/1/19-8/21/19) Fires: 31,677 Acres: 3,844,677
2018 (1/1/18-8/21/18) Fires: 41,563 Acres: 6,000,149
2017 (1/1/17-8/21/17) Fires: 42,977 Acres: 6,479,177
2016 (1/1/16-8/21/16) Fires: 38,686 Acres: 4,161,814
10-year average Year-to-Date
2016-2025 Fires: Acres:
Current Wildfires
Fires: 1
Acres: 6,844
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Mukluk Tok Area ST 6,844 12 Two miles west of Tok, AK  
Fires: 2
Acres: 13,637
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
MP18     7,582 71 Two miles north of Hoopa, CA  
Timber Los Padres National Forest USFS 6,055 29 Approximately 5 miles southeast of Big Sur, California 831-285-7006
Fires: 5
Acres: 160,848
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Aspen Acres Custer County CNTY 102,004 77 10 miles northwest of Rye, CO 719-697-8353
Elk Grand Mesa USFS 7,257 33 7 miles northwest of Lake City, Colorado 970-299-5357
Gold Mountain Grand Mesa USFS 39,710 87 2 miles North of Ouray, Colorado 970-355-3286
Post Las Animas County CNTY 4,343 90 Seven miles southeast of Trinidad, CO  
Willow Pike and San Isabel National Forest USFS 7,534 80 6 miles west of Leadville, CO 719-486-0749
Fires: 1
Acres: 987
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Movie Dome Everglades National Park NPS 987 30 Twenty-one miles west of Homestead, FL  
Fires: 1
Acres: 475
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Main Trail Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge FWS 475 30 Twelve miles southeast of Savannah, GA  
Fires: 7
Acres: 11,543
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Crooked Boise National Forest USFS 250 0 Fifteen miles east of Idaho City, ID  
Doublesprings Salmon-Challis National Forest USFS 1,779 18 Thirty-one miles northwest of Mackay, ID  
Little Weitas Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forests USFS 400 0 Approximately 19 miles East of Peirce, Idaho 208-935-6134
Moose Mountain Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forests USFS 3,249 7 Approximately 4 miles north of Kelly Forks Camp Ground 208-935-6134
North Heglar Cassia County CNTY 1,844 0 Thirty-three miles southwest of Pocatello, ID  
Porcupine Idaho Panhandle National Forest USFS 127 0 Approximately 7 miles NE of Clark Fork, ID. 208-557-8813
Upper Smith Idaho Panhandle National Forest USFS 3,894 38 Six miles West of Porthill, Idaho 208-295-5495
Fires: 3
Acres: 62,658
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Bear Trap Superior National Forest USFS 30,810 53 Twenty miles north of Ely, MN  
Sioux Superior National Forest USFS 6,833 76 Twenty miles northwest of Ely, MN  
Thumb Superior National Forest USFS 25,015 51 Five miles south of Lac la Croix, MN  
Fires: 1
Acres: 1,428
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Jackson HWY 90 Mississippi Forestry Commission ST 1,428 70 Five miles northeast of Moss Point, MS  
Fires: 12
Acres: 64,708
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Ant Park Helena - Lewis and Clark National Forest USFS 400 88 15 miles NE of White Sulphur Springs, MT (406) 547-3361
Black Bear Bitterroot National Forest USFS 2,126 22 15 Miles E of Hamilton, MT 406.420.1174
Bobcat Lakes Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest USFS 9,910 40 12 miles east of Wisdom 406-420-1966
Cherry Peak Lolo National Forest USFS 140 0 11 Miles SE of Thompson Falls, MT 520-333-5791
* Deer Creek Northwestern Land Office ST 345 0 Eighteen miles west of Marion, MT  
Moose Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest USFS 5,965 6 24 miles southwest of Philipsburg (406) 468-1914
North Fork Lost Horse Bitterroot National Forest USFS 118 70 Ten miles northwest of Darby, MT  
Sand Creek Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest USFS 31,757 7 7.5 miles southeast of Wisdom, Montana (406) 420-1966
Sarpy Crow Agency BIA 897 80 Eight miles east of Hardin, MT 406-638-2247
Silvertip Flathead National Forest USFS 6,681 15 Thirty miles northeast of Condon, MT 406-758-5376
Skillet Flathead National Forest USFS 3,369 82 15 miles west of Olney, MT 406-420-1772
Windmill Stillwater County ST 3,000 1 8 miles north of Reed Point, MT, Stillwater County  
Fires: 3
Acres: 162,959
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Bug Carson City District Office BLM 93,733 94 3 Miles S of Hallelujah Junction, CA 775-800-7244
Mouse Meadow Nellis Air Force Base DoD 52,000 80 Thirty-five miles southwest of Rachel, NV  
Shoshone Carson City District Office BLM 17,226 36 58 Miles NE of Fallon, NV 775-399-8248
Fires: 1
Acres: 15,186
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Frijoles Santa Fe National Forest USFS 15,186 38 Steep terrain 5 miles west of Sierra Mosca, 3 miles southeast of Cundiyo, NM. The fire is within the boundaries of the Pecos Wilderness Area. (505) 407-5343
Fires: 18
Acres: 1,375,290
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
0587 Shingle Fossil Unit ST 73,183 93 Fourteen miles southeast of Mitchell, OR  
Austin Mt. Hood National Forest USFS 3,766 0 25 Miles SE of Estacada, OR 541-982-5802
Big Grass Vale District BLM 578,639 85 Malheur County, Oregon and Owyhee County, Idaho 208-295-5503
Bologna Umatilla National Forest USFS 4,509 95 7 miles northeast of Kimberly, OR (503) 877-4580
Cottonwood John Day Unit ST 722 95 15 miles southwest of Long Creek, Oregon (503) 877-4580
E Evans Creek Rd Medford Unit ST 15,580 98 Fourteen miles northeast of Rogue River, OR  
Egypt Malheur National Forest USFS 4,553 82 12 Miles N of Riley, OR  
Fielder Mtn Grants Pass Unit ST 573 81 One mile west of Rogue River, OR  
Grasshopper Mt. Hood National Forest USFS 92,456 71 3 miles North of Sportmans Park, OR 541-982-5802
Hagen Umatilla National Forest USFS 58,646 19 26 Miles East of Pendleton, OR 541-970-7128
Little Bear John Day Unit ST 67 95 8 Miles NE of Mt. Vernon, OR (503) 877-4580
Paradise Umatilla National Forest USFS 6,745 0 15 miles south of Pendleton Oregon (509) 524-2900
Picture Rock Lakeview District BLM 1,228 65 3 Miles N of Summer Lake, OR 541-219-0515
Rosenbaum Fossil Unit ST 483 89 10 Miles NW of Spray, OR (503) 877-4580
Rowe Creek Complex Prineville District BLM 373,981 89 10 Miles S of Fossil, OR 541-800-1280
Second Flat Burns District BLM 105,854 95 Six miles NE of Riley, OR 541-970-7130
The Narrows Mt. Hood National Forest USFS 174 0 Fifteen miles southeast of Estacada, OR  
Wrights Spring Fremont-Winema National Forest USFS 54,131 55 2 Miles W of Sprague River OR 541-712-4438
Fires: 1
Acres: 698
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Rancher Pine Ridge Agency BIA 698 85 Two miles east of Evergreen, SD  
Fires: 0
Acres: 0
New: 0
Contained: 1
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Casey Lake Texas A & M Forest Service ST 443 100 2 miles north of Albany, Texas 979-255-0591
Fires: 5
Acres: 150,325
New: 2
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Black Canyon Manti-Lasal National Forest USFS 3,264 61 29 miles SW of Price, UT (435) 485-5631
* Little Mountain Bear River Area ST 506 45 Seven miles south of Tremonton, UT  
Rocky Canyon Northwest Area ST 16,464 96 Six miles southwest of Henefer, UT  
* Slough Canyon Uintah and Ouray Agency BIA 350 0 Forty-one miles east of Price, UT  
Widemouth 2 Fishlake National Forest USFS 129,741 93 2 miles SW of Kanosh, Utah 435-261-3607
Fires: 13
Acres: 531,657
New: 2
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Balky Hill Northeast Region-Department of Natural Resources ST 365 25 Five miles east of Twisp, WA  
Border 2 North Cascades National Park NPS 7,296 42 20 Miles NE of Marblemount, WA  
Grand Park 2 Mount Rainier National Park NPS 167 67 Seven miles southwest of Snoquera, WA 509-348-7539
High Lava Gifford Pinchot National Forest USFS 1,717 19 11 Miles NW of Stabler, WA  
Kaiser Canyon Colville Agency BIA 138,284 90 1 mile S of Nespelem, WA 509-800-8123
Little Giant Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest USFS 138,475 12 30 miles NW of Leavenworth, WA 509-776-6953
Luna North Cascades National Park NPS 4,624 0 10 Miles North of Newhalem, WA  
Modrite Northeast Region-Department of Natural Resources ST 57,594 97 17 Miles SW of Inchelium, WA 509-287-8176
Prairie Mountain Northwest Region-Department of Natural Resources ST 142 90 Seven miles northeast of Darrington, WA  
Ptarmigan Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest USFS 24,720 55 20 Miles NW of Mazama, WA 509-215-8214
Sinlahekin Northeast Region-Department of Natural Resources ST 154,298 47 12 Miles W of Tonasket, WA 509-287-4942
* Sisi Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest USFS 126 0 Ten miles northwest of Stehekin, WA  
Three Queens Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest USFS 3,849 2 6 Miles E of Snoqualmie Pass, WA 509-213-5294
Fires: 1
Acres: 350
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* West Coal Creek Campbell County CNTY 350 30 Forty-five miles north of Gillette, WY