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.
January 9, 2026
There are currently large fires approaching full containment in Kentucky, Texas, and Missouri. In this comparatively quiet part of the fire year, the focus of many local fire programs turns to fuels treatments such as broadcast prescribed burns and pile burns. Using these techniques to reduce the overall fuel loads across the landscape can make a big difference in how vulnerable those landscapes are when unwanted wildfires strike. For some interesting examples of fuels treatments making a difference during subsequent wildfires, explore these success stories from the Bureau of Land Management.
As we approach the first anniversary of the devastating Palisades Fire and others in the greater Los Angeles area, the affected communities are deep in the process of rebuilding. These destructive 2025 fires are a stark reminder of the complexity of fire suppression in the wildland urban interface, especially when factoring in extreme weather conditions like high winds. While the average person cannot control extreme weather conditions, there are proactive steps homeowners can take to make their homes and neighborhoods less vulnerable to wildfire. Firewise USA has lots of information to get started.
Are you or someone in your life interested in working in wildland fire in 2026? Numerous seasonal firefighting jobs, fire support jobs, and leadership positions are currently open on USAJobs, the federal government employment portal. Search "firefighter" or "wildland fire" to see what's available.
Happy 2026 from NIFC.
Breezy and dry westerly winds will develop ahead of a cold front today in southwest Texas creating elevated conditions, with light snow across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles behind the front. This cold front will also bring widespread rain across the Mid and Lower Mississippi Valley to the East Coast, with snow in the western Great Lakes. However, portions of the Southeast coast and Florida will receive little precipitation. Otherwise, much drier conditions are expected across the US next week with upper-level ridging in the West and northwest flow across the eastern US. Strong inversions will develop in western valleys while mountain temperatures are above normal. Light snow will spread across the southern half of Alaska the next two days with milder temperatures before very cold air returns early next week. Another round of snow and warming temperatures is possible late next week.
| Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
2 | States currently reporting large fires: |
| Total number of large fires | 3 | |
| Acres from all active large fires | 1,494 | |
| Fires contained | 1 |
| 2026 (1/1/26-1/09/26) | Fires: 870 | Acres: 8,160 |
| 2024 (1/1/24-1/09/24) | Fires: 231 | Acres: 911 |
| 2023 (1/1/23-1/09/23) | Fires: 295 | Acres: 2,103 |
| 2022 (1/1/22-1/09/22) | Fires: 250 | Acres: 2,956 |
| 2021 (1/1/21-1/09/21) | Fires: 214 | Acres: 946 |
| 2020 (1/1/20-1/09/20) | Fires: 361 | Acres: 9,270 |
| 2019 (1/1/19-1/09/19) | Fires: 107 | Acres: 260 |
| 2018 (1/1/18-1/09/18) | Fires: 610 | Acres: 5,902 |
| 2017 (1/1/17-1/09/17) | Fires: 156 | Acres: 3,578 |
| 2016 (1/1/16-1/09/16) | Fires: 57 | Acres: 107 |
| 2016-2025 | Fires: 213 | Acres: 3,539 |
Kentucky
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Hopkins Fork | Kentucky Division of Forestry | ST | 120 | 80 | Started on private land 11 miles south of Pikeville, KY |
Missouri
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * Math Branch | Mark Twain National Forest | USFS | 700 | 70 | Ten miles north of Bradleyville, MO |
Oklahoma
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pale Horse | Cherokee Nation Tribe | BIA | 288 | 100 | Six miles southwest of Stilwell, OK |
Texas
| Fire | Unit | Agency | Size | % Ctn | Location | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madley | National Forests And Grasslands In Texas | USFS | 674 | 95 | Five miles east of Patroon, TX |
