Since yesterday, 177 new fires were reported nationwide. Currently, firefighters are working to suppress and contain 36 large fires across the country. Extreme fire behavior and evacuations are reported in multiple geographic areas. So far this year, 37,535 fires have burned more than 3.3 million acres across the United States.
Widespread lightning across multiple geographic areas in recent days is expected to continue to generate new starts. In the midst of escalating fire activity in the mainland United States, with the Rocky Mountain and Great Basin geographic areas especially busy at the moment, Super Typhoon Billy made landfall in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam yesterday. Assessments are underway, and the USDA Forest Service is activating a crew to assist.
Approximately 85% of wildfires are human-caused, which means they are avoidable. Here’s how you can help:
Practice safe campfire habits: If you're camping, make sure your campfire is fully extinguished before leaving. Use water, stir the ashes, and check that it’s cool to the touch.
Mind your sparks: Avoid using equipment that can produce sparks, like chainsaws, in dry or windy conditions. If you must, clear the area of flammable materials and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
Dispose of cigarettes properly: Never toss a lit cigarette out of a car window or onto the ground. Make sure it’s fully extinguished and disposed of in a safe container.
Be cautious with vehicles: Don’t park or drive on dry grass. The heat from your car’s exhaust can ignite the vegetation.
Know the restrictions: Always check for local fire restrictions before starting any outdoor activity. If fire bans are in place, respect them.
Weather
Isolated to locally scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will develop across eastern Oregon into the northern and eastern Great Basin and much of the Rockies. With minimum relative humidity falling to 10-25% across much of the Intermountain West, several new ignitions are likely, especially in the northern Great Basin to Greater Four Corners. New and existing fires may also be fanned by outflow wind gusts up to 50 mph. In addition, breezy west to southwest winds in the southern Great Basin and along the east slopes of the Cascades to Sierra Front will create areas of elevated conditions. Isolated mainly wet thunderstorms will develop in the northern Plains, with more widespread showers and thunderstorms from the eastern Dakotas to Upper Michigan. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in much of the lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast. Above normal temperatures are expected in Alaska, especially for portions of the northern Interior and North Slope which could reach 85°F. Furthermore, scattered thunderstorms will develop across the western Interior, with isolated thunderstorms for the eastern Interior and North Slope.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
Approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (34 Miles NW of Cora, WY)
