National Fire News

National Preparedness Level 1 

as of October 13, 2023 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 on Fridays.
Please check the IMSR for more information.

March 22, 2024

26 new large fires were reported this week. Virginia had numerous significant starts this week, with active fire and structures threatened. North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and West Virginia also have uncontained large wildfires. Complex incident management teams are assigned to the Rocky Branch and Waterfall Mountain Fires, both in Virginia.

A high-risk fire weather event is expected across northwest Texas and adjacent areas over the coming weekend, with prolonged periods of high winds and low relative humidity. 

Homeowners and communities play a major role in fire safety. Take simple measures such as keeping streets and roads clear, so fire engines can safely maneuver, and residents can evacuate quickly if needed. Make sure fire hydrants are visible and accessible. Clear flammable vegetation around structures, on large lots, and along roadsides. These simple prevention measures go a long way in making communities more fire safe. 

Visit the NIFC website prevention page to learn how you can plan and prepare for wildfires and prevent unwanted human-caused fires: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation.

    Weather

    Breezy southwest winds are forecast for the central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic today, but relative humidity will increase, with widespread rain forecast for much of the Southeast, Appalachians, and East Coast tonight into Saturday. A fast-moving storm will also bring snow to the Great Lakes and rain to the Ohio Valley today, with snow in northern New England tomorrow. A large Pacific storm will move across the West this weekend with widespread precipitation, falling as snow in the mountains. As this storm emerges onto the Plains, strong southwesterly winds and dry conditions are forecast for the southern High Plains with elevated to critical fire weather conditions. Widespread precipitation will fall across the rest of the Plains into the Mississippi Valley early next week with this storm, with heavy snow and blizzard conditions possible for the northern Plains and portions of Minnesota. Another round of widespread rain is likely for the Appalachians to East Coast mid to late next week as this storm continues moving eastward. A second Pacific storm will bring rain and mountain snow to the northern two-thirds of the West mid to late next week, with strong westerly winds likely across much of the Southwest into the southern Plains. Much of central and eastern Interior Alaska will remain mild and dry the next week with continued storms for southwest Alaska. 

    Daily statistics
    Number of new large fires or emergency response
    * New fires are identified with an asterisk
    26 States currently reporting large fires:
    Number of active large fires
    Total does not include individual fires within complexes.
    18
    Acres from active fires 18,743
    Fires contained 18
    Year-to-date statistics
    2024 (1/1/24-3/22/24) Fires: 3,892 Acres: 1,623,021
    2023 (1/1/23-3/22/23) Fires: 6,789 Acres: 84,526
    2022 (1/1/22-3/22/22) Fires: 13,471 Acres: 425,999
    2021 (1/1/21-3/22/21) Fires: 8,690 Acres: 221,060
    2020 (1/1/20-3/22/20) Fires: 5,303 Acres: 108,729
    2019 (1/1/19-3/22/19) Fires: 3,764 Acres: 97,792
    2018 (1/1/18-3/22/18) Fires: 9,649 Acres: 393,814
    2017 (1/1/17-3/22/17) Fires: 11,978 Acres: 1,797,480
    2016 (1/1/16-3/22/16) Fires: 7,530 Acres: 339,183
    2015 (1/1/15-3/22/15) Fires: 7,821 Acres: 133,687
    2014 (1/1/14-3/22/14) Fires: 9,592 Acres: 134,950
    10-year average Year-to-Date
    2014-2023 Fires: 8,268 Acres: 371,953
    Current Wildfires
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 0
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    Irishman Creek Road
    Edit
    Kentucky Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 188 100 Started on private land four miles southeast of Hindman, KY  
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 1
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * CR 5091
    Edit
    Mississippi Forestry Commission
    Edit
    ST 301 100    
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 2
    Contained: 2
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Bates
    Edit
    Mark Twain National Forest
    Edit
    USFS 370 100    
    * Little Barren
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    Mark Twain National Forest
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    USFS 258 100    
    Fires: 2
    Acres: 1,012
    New: 3
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Horseshoe Lake
    Edit
    North Carolina Forest Service
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    ST 550 75 Fourteen miles north of Elizabethtown, NC  
    * Huckleberry Mountain
    Edit
    North Carolina Forest Service
    Edit
    ST 462 22 Twenty-three miles northeast of Rutherfordton, NC  
    * Brushy Mountain
    Edit
    North Carolina Forest Service
    Edit
    ST 125 100    
    Fires: 6
    Acres: 7,450
    New: 7
    Contained: 7
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Beaver Mtn
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 776 90 Twenty-nine miles northeast of McAlester, OK  
    * Cimarron Bluff
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 4,113 80 Two miles east of Selman, OK  
    * Flying G
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    Okmulgee Field Office
    Edit
    BIA 1,100 80    
    * Frisco Line
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
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    ST 125 75 Twenty-nine miles southeast of McAlester, OK  
    * Salt Fork
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    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 210 75 Seven miles south of Jay, OK  
    Spent
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    Cherokee Nation Tribe
    Edit
    BIA 1,126 30 Nine miles south of Jay, OK  
    * Blackbird Creek
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 130 100    
    Brooken 1
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 511 100 Twenty-five miles northeast of McAlester, OK  
    Brooken 2
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 142 100 Thirty miles northeast of McAlester, OK  
    Hog Trap
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
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    ST 170 100 Three miles south of Leach, OK  
    Lamar Castle
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    Okmulgee Field Office
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    BIA 903 100 One mile west of Lamar, OK  
    * Mining Camp Hollow
    Edit
    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 150 100    
    North Beaver
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    Oklahoma Division of Forestry
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    ST 674 100 Seven miles northwest of Beaver, OK  
    Fires: 1
    Acres: 1,467
    New: 1
    Contained: 0
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * 2 Rock Creek Ridge Road
    Edit
    Tennessee Division of Forestry
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    ST 1,467 75 Started on private land 12 miles southeast of Jellico, TN  
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 0
    Contained: 2
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    Smokehouse Creek
    Edit
    Texas A & M Forest Service
    Edit
    ST 1,058,482 100    
    Windy Deuce
    Edit
    Texas A & M Forest Service
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    ST 144,045 100 Started on private land six miles east of Masterson, TX  
    Fires: 6
    Acres: 7,414
    New: 9
    Contained: 3
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Brushy Knob
    Edit
    George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
    Edit
    USFS 500 75    
    * Capon
    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 1,200 0 One mile southeast of Bergton, VA  
    * Rocky Branch
    Edit
    Shenandoah National Park
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    NPS 1,188 0 Four miles east of Luray, VA  
    * Taylor’s Gap
    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry
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    ST 200 0 Seven miles northeast of Crozet, VA  
    * Waterfall Mountain
    Edit
    George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
    Edit
    USFS 4,126 0    
    * West Old Mountain Road
    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 200 0 Seven miles south of Louisa, VA  
    * 24WR000155
    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 100 100    
    * 24WR000167
    Edit
    Virginia Department of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 236 100    
    * 24WR000168
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    Virginia Department of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 284 100    
    Fires: 3
    Acres: 1,400
    New: 3
    Contained: 0
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    * Grace Mountain
    Edit
    West Virginia Division of Forestry
    Edit
    ST 600 0 Two miles southeast of Milam, WV  
    * Smokehouse Fork
    Edit
    West Virginia Division of Forestry
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    ST 300 90 Seven miles southwest of Chapmanville, WV  
    * Spring Run
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    West Virginia Division of Forestry
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    ST 500 30 Five miles southeast of Petersburg, WV  
    Fires: 0
    Acres: 0
    New: 0
    Contained: 1
    Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
    Barlow Canyon
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    Crook County
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    CNTY 207 100 Twelve miles west of Huellet, WY