as of May 21 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 will be updated Monday through Friday.
Please check the IMSR for more information.
May 21, 2024
Significant wildland fire activity is increasing in multiple geographic areas. While fire managers are able to handle the current wildland fire situation with available resources, there is potential that the existing conditions could change.
Currently, seven large fires have burned 35,413 acres in four states. New large fires were reported in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Since January 1, 14,641 wildfires have burned 1,883,689 acres. This is about even with the 10-year average for the number of wildfires and slightly above the average number of acres burned.
For a look ahead, check out the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for seven-day and monthly outlooks generated by predictive services within the National Interagency Coordination Center. Looking for more information on your specific region? Try the predictive services information for your own geographic area.
As summer approaches, wildland firefighters and support personnel across the country need your help to prevent human-caused wildfires. In 2024, nearly14,000 wildfires have been caused by people and more than 1.8 million acres were burned. Before you head out to enjoy the great outdoors, check for local fire restrictions that may affect campfires and barbecues. If a campfire is allowed, use existing fire rings and make sure it is completely out and cold to the touch before leaving or sleeping. Please do your part to recreate responsibly and prevent wildfires.
Breezy and dry westerly winds will continue across much of eastern Arizona into New Mexico with widespread elevated to locally critical conditions. Dry and breezy conditions will spread into portions of eastern Utah, West Slope, and southern High Plains as well, while well above normal temperatures are forecast for southwest Texas. A Pacific storm will move into the Northwest today bringing rain, with snow above 6,000 feet, spreading into the northern Rockies tonight. Strong surface low pressure will move from Nebraska through the Upper Mississippi Valley, with heavy rain likely for much of eastern South Dakota into Minnesota. Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms will develop along and ahead of the cold front form the Great Lakes into eastern Oklahoma and northeast Texas. Isolated thunderstorms are forecast for Florida, otherwise the rest of the East Coast will remain dry. Warm and dry conditions are forecast for the central and eastern Interior of Alaska, with dry downslope winds off the Alaska Range for the central Interior.
| Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
4 | States currently reporting large fires: |
| Number of active large fires Total does not include individual fires within complexes. |
7 | |
| Acres from active fires | 35,413 | |
| Fires contained | 4 |
| 2024 (1/1/24-5/21/24) | Fires: 14,641 | Acres: 1,883,689 |
| 2023 (1/1/23-5/21/23) | Fires: 16,317 | Acres: 487,867 |
| 2022 (1/1/22-5/21/22) | Fires: 11,792 | Acres: 1,726,833 |
| 2021 (1/1/21-5/21/21) | Fires: 22,561 | Acres: 608,523 |
| 2020 (1/1/20-5/21/20) | Fires: 16,686 | Acres: 349,346 |
| 2019 (1/1/19-5/21/19) | Fires: 13,174 | Acres: 236,887 |
| 2018 (1/1/18-5/21/18) | Fires: 22,478 | Acres: 1,625,864 |
| 2017 (1/1/17-5/21/17) | Fires: 23,192 | Acres: 2,132,937 |
| 2016 (1/1/16-5/21/16) | Fires: 18,692 | Acres: 1,555,535 |
| 2015 (1/1/15-5/21/15) | Fires: 20,158 | Acres: 377,764 |
| 2014 (1/1/14-5/21/14) | Fires: 23,288 | Acres: 485,181 |
| 2014-2023 | Fires: 20,164 | Acres: 950,622 |
Alaska
Arizona
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse Edit |
Tonto National Forest Edit |
USFS | 512 | 75 | Twenty-eight miles southwest of Payson, AZ | |
| Toyo Edit |
San Carlos Agency Edit |
BIA | 1,778 | 90 | Nineteen miles southeast of Globe, AZ | |
| * Wildcat Edit |
Tonto National Forest Edit |
USFS | 14,283 | 23 | Twenty-five miles northeast of Scottsdale, AZ | |
| Wolf Edit |
Coconino National Forest Edit |
USFS | 9,896 | 99 | Twenty-three miles north of Payson, AZ | |
| Reay Edit |
Gila District Office Edit |
BLM | 700 | 100 | Two miles southeast of Pima, AZ |
