National Fire News

National Preparedness Level 1

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.

Feb. 27, 2026

The national Preparedness Level remains at 1, but fire activity tells a story about how quickly conditions can shift this time of year.

Over the past week, firefighters responded to 617 new fires nationwide, with 46 new large incidents reported. As of today, 22 large fires have burned 50,652. Most of the current activity remains in the Southern Area, which is at Preparedness Level 3.

While many regions are still experiencing winter weather, parts of the South are seeing wind-driven runs in grass, brush and southern rough. Numerous residences have been threatened in Florida, Texas and Oklahoma. These early-season fires are a reminder that fire year is not confined to summer months.

Year-to-date, the nation has recorded 7,895 fires and 385,991 acres burned. For comparison, the 10-year average to date is 4,323 fires and 91,529 acres. Numbers alone do not tell the whole story, but they do reinforce an important truth: conditions, fuels and weather patterns vary widely across the country at any given time.

The good news is that initial attack remains strong. The vast majority of new starts are contained quickly, often within the first operational period. That success reflects coordinated interagency response and the commitment of firefighters, dispatchers, aviation resources and support personnel working together behind the scenes.

Where you live, simple actions matter. Secure trailer chains. Avoid parking on dry grass. Check local burn restrictions. Attend debris burns until they are completely out. One spark can change a community’s day.

Fire year is a shared responsibility. Whether you are in Florida, Oklahoma or California, preparedness starts close to home. It takes all of us.

Could 2026 be the year you step into wildland fire? A career in wildland fire offers purpose, teamwork and service to communities and public lands. Seasonal firefighter, support and leadership positions are open on USAJOBS. Search “firefighter” or “wildland fire” to explore opportunities and get started today.

Weather

Warm, dry and breezy conditions are driving elevated to high fire potential across parts of the Southeast and Florida today, with gusty winds also affecting Montana and portions of the central and southern Plains. A cold front moving through Florida could bring scattered thunderstorms and lightning, creating the potential for new fire starts. Much of the West will remain mostly dry, with only light precipitation expected in parts of the central Intermountain West this weekend. Looking ahead, a wetter pattern may develop across the southern Plains into the Mid-Mississippi Valley next week, which could provide some relief in those areas.

Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response


* New fires are identified with an asterisk
39 States currently reporting large fires:
Total number of large fires 18
Acres from all active large fires 48,596
Fires contained 36
Year-to-date statistics
2026 (1/1/26-2/27/26) Fires: 7,895 Acres: 385,991
2025 (1/1/25-2/27/25) Fires: 5,245 Acres: 108,534
2024 (1/1/24-2/27/24) Fires: 4,163 Acres: 128,926
2023 (1/1/23-2/27/23) Fires: 3,818 Acres: 41,357
2022 (1/1/22-2/27/22) Fires: 7,376 Acres: 159,906
2021 (1/1/21-2/27/21) Fires: 3,277 Acres: 67,305
2020 (1/1/20-2/27/20) Fires: 2,511 Acres: 43,219
2019 (1/1/19-2/27/19) Fires: 2,139 Acres: 40,585
2018 (1/1/18-2/27/18) Fires: 6,180 Acres: 128,483
2017 (1/1/17-2/27/17) Fires: 7,046 Acres: 177,357
2016 (1/1/16-2/27/16) Fires: 3,002 Acres: 145,007
10-year average Year-to-Date
2016-2025 Fires: 4,323 Acres: 91,529
Current Wildfires
Fires: 1
Acres: 446
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* County Road 2 Alabama Forestry Commission ST 446 75 Twenty miles south of Midway, AL
Fires: 1
Acres: 350
New: 3
Contained: 2
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Range 127A Fort Carson Army Base DoD 350 30 Sixteen miles south of Colorado Springs, CO
* 113 Logan County CNTY 4,000 100
* Dahlberg Douglas County CNTY 1,084 100
Fires: 3
Acres: 26,925
New: 2
Contained: 1
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Bills Branch National Forests in Florida USFS 470 75 Five miles southeast of Salt Springs, FL
Foster Bridge National Forests in Florida USFS 675 50 Twelve miles south of Bristol, FL
* National Big Cypress National Preserve NPS 25,780 0 One mile south of Miles City, FL
* Rocky Florida Forest Service ST 750 100
Fires: 1
Acres: 697
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Hwy 301 Georgia Forestry Commission ST 697 95 One mile north of Folkston, GA
Fires: 1
Acres: 3,600
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Andrew Lane Seward County CNTY 3,600 90 Twelve miles northeast of Liberal, KS
Fires: 0
Acres: 0
New: 3
Contained: 3
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Cluster Kisatchie National Forest USFS 1,122 100
* Fish Hatchery Louisiana Office of Forestry ST 441 100
* Wild Cow Louisiana Office of Forestry ST 394 100
Fires: 2
Acres: 3,632
New: 7
Contained: 6
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Kataja National Forests in Mississippi USFS 672 90 Six miles southwest of New Augusta, MS
* Range 6 National Forests in Mississippi USFS 2,960 50 Eight miles east of Brooklyn, MS
* 305 H National Forests in Mississippi USFS 315 100
* Greene - Hwy 57 Mississippi Forestry Commission ST 555 100
* Hancock Mississippi Forestry Commission ST 540 100
* Jeff Davis Mississippi Forestry Commission ST 324 100
* Pearl River Mississippi Forestry Commission ST 319 100
Tiger Tank National Forests in Mississippi USFS 1,800 100 Four miles northeast of Brooklyn, MS
Fires: 0
Acres: 0
New: 3
Contained: 3
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Brushy Mark Twain National Forest USFS 271 100
* Red Point Mark Twain National Forest USFS 101 100
* Upton Road Missouri Department of Conservation ST 550 100
Fires: 1
Acres: 3,797
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Smith Las Vegas District ST 3,797 99 Started on private land four miles northeast of Mosquero, NM
Fires: 7
Acres: 3,774
New: 13
Contained: 15
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Alabama Creek Okmulgee Field Office BIA 739 90 One mile southwest of Clearview, OK
* East Tower Osage Agency BIA 713 80 Eight miles west of Bartlesville, OK
* Horse Head Okmulgee Field Office BIA 535 60 Two miles southeast of Weleetka, OK
* Nofire Hollow Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 352 80 Four miles northeast of Caney Ridge, OK
* Rattlesnake Osage Agency BIA 498 80 Three miles northeast of Ochelata, OK
* Red Oak Peak Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 204 75 One mile east of Red Oak, OK
* Turkey Creek Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 733 70 Four miles northeast of Slick, OK
43 Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 2,159 100 Two miles southwest of Woodward, OK
615 Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 242 100 Four miles south of Rose, OK
* Blue Hog Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 340 100
Chelsea Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 126 100 Four miles northeast of Chelsea, OK
* Devils Backbone Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 392 100
Drowning Creek Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 122 100 Two miles northwest of Jay, OK
* High Point Okmulgee Field Office BIA 187 100
Hoppy Hill Okmulgee Field Office BIA 236 100 One mile north or Hannah, OK
Morning Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 820 100 Nine miles northwest of Balko, OK
Poor Farm Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 9,565 100 Seven miles southeast of Hartshorne, OK
* Round House Okmulgee Field Office BIA 265 100
* Savage Highway Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 1,405 100
Side Road Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 3,680 100 Four miles southwest of Tyrone, OK
Stevens Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 12,894 100 Seven miles northwest of Hooker, OK
* Turtle Shell Oklahoma Division of Forestry ST 154 100
Fires: 1
Acres: 5,375
New: 5
Contained: 6
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Cypress Creek National Forests And Grasslands In Texas USFS 5,375 15 Five miles southeast of Zavalla, TX
8 Ball Texas A & M Forest Service ST 13,500 100 Approximately 12 miles west of Clarendon, Texas 979-255-0591
* Flat Creek Texas A & M Forest Service ST 509 100
Lavender Texas A & M Forest Service ST 18,423 100 5 miles south of Boys Ranch, TX 806-220-5156
* Nebo Mountain Texas A & M Forest Service ST 1,160 100 15 Miles Northeast of Fredericksburg, TX 979-255-0591
* River Boat Texas A & M Forest Service ST 338 100 1.5 miles southeast of Jefferson, Texas. Marion County 979-255-0591
* Willard Texas A & M Forest Service ST 540 100 10 Miles Southwest of Stratford, Texas. 806-220-5156