Fire activity remains steady as we move further into spring. The national preparedness level is 2, with light activity overall and a few areas beginning to see increased fire potential.
So far this year, 22,658 fires have burned 1,815,628 acres, already above the 10-year average for acres.
Yesterday, 109 new fires were reported, with six new large fires and 25 uncontained large fires nationwide. Nearly 1,900 personnel are assigned across active incidents.
The Southern Area remains the most active, with fires in Georgia and Florida showing wind-driven growth and threatening structures. In the Rocky Mountain Area, dry fuels and gusty winds are also contributing to new large fires.
Elevated to critical fire weather is expected across parts of the High Plains and Four Corners, with strong winds and low humidity. Dry conditions continue in the Southeast, where fire activity remains active.
Firefighters and support personnel are working together across the country to protect communities and public lands. The public plays a role too.
The 2026 National Fire Year Themes remind us that safety comes first, and that preventing human-caused fires is something we all share. Firefighters and support personnel are working together across agencies to respond quickly and keep fires small, but they cannot do it alone.
Weather
Widespread elevated to critical are expected across the Greater Four Corners into the central and southern High Plains today as westerly winds of 15-25 mph and gusts to 40 mph develop amid relative humidity of 5-15%. The strongest winds and lowest humidity are most likely in eastern Colorado to northeast New Mexico. Mild and dry conditions are expected across the Northwest while cool temperatures and scattered snow showers continue across Montana and Wyoming. Very dry conditions will persist in the Southeast with minimum relative humidity of 20-30% but winds will remain light outside of sea breezes that develop near the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Locally breezy and dry northwest winds will continue across New England, while dry northwest winds are expected in Minnesota but will be weaker than yesterday. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop ahead of a cold front from East Texas to the Great Lakes, with a few severe thunderstorms likely in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Seasonable temperatures are expected in Alaska with mostly dry conditions while breezy trade winds continue in Hawai’i.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
