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.
February 6, 2026
Fire activity remains relatively light nationwide, with the National Preparedness Level at 1. While most large fires this week are concentrated in the Southern Area, including grass fires in Florida and Mississippi, wildland firefighters and support personnel are also playing a key role in all-hazard response efforts.
In Georgia, an incident management team is supporting emergency road clearing and public safety operations following the impacts of a significant winter storm in the Southeast. This kind of work highlights the adaptability of the wildland fire workforce and the interagency coordination that supports communities year-round, not just during peak fire activity.
Winter weather continues to shape conditions across much of the country. Heavy snow, strong winds, and dangerously cold temperatures are expected in parts of the East, while much of the West is forecast to trend warmer and drier in the coming weeks. As we look ahead, the February through spring outlook shows areas of elevated fire potential emerging later in the season, particularly across portions of the South and Southeast, a reminder that fire year planning never truly pauses.
No matter the season or hazard, safety remains the foundation of every response. Today’s Six Minutes for Safety topic, Fight Fire Aggressively, Having Provided for Safety First, applies just as much to winter operations and storm response as it does to wildfire. For the public, winter is also a good time to think ahead. If you plan to burn debris, recreate outdoors, or use equipment around dry vegetation during warming and drying periods, check local conditions and restrictions and take steps to prevent unwanted fires before they start.
Fire does not follow a calendar. Whether responding to wildfires, winter storms, or preparing for what comes next, it truly takes all of us working together to keep communities safe.
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 fast-moving cold front will move through the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic today with light snow. Very cold air will move in for the weekend behind the front, with widespread below zero wind chills. The front will be dry as it moves through the Lower Mississippi Valley and Southeast, followed by brisk and dry northwest winds. Elevated conditions are likely across portions of Florida over the weekend. Record high temperatures will continue across Montana today and move into the northern Plains over the weekend. Temperatures will remain above normal in rest of the West through the weekend, with warmth continuing on the rest of the Plains into next week, as well. Temperatures will cool closer to normal next week in the West as a series of weak storms moves in, with valley rain and mountain snow expected for the northern two-thirds of the West. Most of the eastern US will be dry for early next week, before precipitation arrives to the Midwest and Northeast mid to late next week. A weak storm will move through the southern Plains mid-next week, but precipitation is more uncertain. Cold air will move into Interior Alaska this weekend with generally dry conditions. A strong storm will move into the western part of the state next week. Increasing moisture is expected across Hawai’i today and into the weekend, with areas of heavy rain and flooding possible. A drying trend is expected next week along with strong trade winds, but windward showers are expected to continue.
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Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
7 | States currently reporting large fires: |
| Total number of large fires | 3 | |
| Acres from all active large fires | 1,138 | |
| Fires contained | 5 |
| 2026 (1/1/26-2/06/26) | Fires: 3,797 | Acres: 61,122 |
| 2025 (1/1/25-2/06/25) | Fires: 3,016 | Acres: 77,223 |
| 2024 (1/1/24-2/06/24) | Fires: 1,358 | Acres: 7,177 |
| 2023 (1/1/23-2/06/23) | Fires: 1,823 | Acres: 14,689 |
| 2022 (1/1/22-2/06/22) | Fires: 2,496 | Acres: 41,778 |
| 2021 (1/1/21-2/06/21) | Fires: 2,183 | Acres: 48,247 |
| 2020 (1/1/20-2/06/20) | Fires: 1,486 | Acres: 28,092 |
| 2019 (1/1/19-2/06/19) | Fires: 1,076 | Acres: 12,665 |
| 2018 (1/1/18-2/06/18) | Fires: 4,933 | Acres: 97,132 |
| 2017 (1/1/17-2/06/17) | Fires: 3,216 | Acres: 90,362 |
| 2016 (1/1/16-2/06/16) | Fires: 939 | Acres: 23,454 |
| 2016-2025 | Fires: 2,081 | Acres: 42,036 |
Alabama
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Rocky Branch | National Forests in Alabama | USFS | 291 | 100 |
Florida
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Horseshoe Creek | Florida Forest Service | ST | 650 | 70 | Eight miles northeast of Mexico Beach, FL | |
| * Pace | Florida Forest Service | ST | 318 | 75 | Five miles east of Interlachen, FL | |
| * US 1 South | Florida Forest Service | ST | 170 | 80 | Six miles southeast of Bunnell, FL | |
| * ST-1 Alpha | Avon Park Air Force Base | DoD | 3,047 | 100 | ||
| Silver Lake | National Forests in Florida | USFS | 4,816 | 100 | Seven miles west of Sopchoppy, FL | |
| * Terkam Rd | Florida Forest Service | ST | 130 | 100 |
Mississippi
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Breezy | National Forests in Mississippi | USFS | 650 | 100 |
