Wildfire Report
Daily Tech Reader - Wildfire Edition
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National Overview
Wildfire Report — National Overview
The U.S. is at Preparedness Level 5. Initial attack activity across the country is moderate, with 200 new fires reported nationwide yesterday. Firefighters are currently working to contain 79 uncontained large fires, with 5 new large incidents emerging and 22,122 total personnel assigned to incidents nationwide. So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 50,580 wildfires that have burned 7,738,302 acres across the United States.
An international contingent from Australia and New Zealand — three 15-member incident management teams and 270 fireline management personnel — remains assigned to support large fires in the Northwest and Great Basin geographic areas. Two hundred forty soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) are deployed in support of wildland fire operations on the Little Giant fire, supported by an assigned Incident Management Organization (IMO). Two MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the 302nd Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve, CO) and one from the 152nd Airlift Wing (NV Air National Guard) are deployed to Klamath Falls, OR, while two MAFFS C-130 airtankers from the 146th Airlift Wing (CA Air National Guard) are deployed to Redding, CA.
An upper trough passes to the north of Montana, bringing scattered, fast-moving thunderstorms with little rainfall to parts of the Northern Rockies and eastern Pacific Northwest, as well as dry and breezy winds. This weather will result in high-risk significant fire potential for those parts. Highs in the mid-80s to mid-90s are forecast across the Intermountain West, increasing to 100 to 115°F over southeast California and southern Arizona, coinciding with relative humidity levels of 8 to 20%. Gusty winds are expected in the afternoon throughout the Great Basin and into the eastern Northern Rockies. Farther east, persistent heat will grip the Southern Plains with high temperatures peaking in the 90s to 110°F and relative humidity dropping into the mid-teens to mid-20s, while scattered mixed wet/dry thunderstorms develop across the Greater Four Corners, Great Basin, and from the Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Washington
The Northwest Area remains at Preparedness Level 5, with 29 uncontained large fires active across the geographic area.
The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth has burned 142,218 acres (15% contained) with active flanking, group torching, and spotting. The incident management team is also managing the Sisi fire (734 acres).
The Sinlahekin fire near Tonasket stands at 154,480 acres (47% contained) with short crown runs, group torching, and spotting.
The Kaiser Canyon fire (138,284 acres; 98% contained) south of Nespelem and the Modrite fire (57,594 acres; 98% contained) southwest of Inchelium are showing minimal smoldering, creeping, and backing.
The Three Queens fire (6,379 acres; 2% contained) east of Snoqualmie Pass exhibits group torching, flanking, and backing, with its team also managing the Grand Park 2 fire (168 acres; 67% contained) and the King fire (459 acres). Other active incidents across Washington include Ptarmigan (24,770 acres), Border 2 (7,401 acres), Luna (4,670 acres), High Lava (1,717 acres), and the new Colwash fire (4,000 acres).
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Spokane — Sunny, High 80, Low 53
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Seattle — Mostly Cloudy, High 75, Low 56
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Yakima — Smoke, High 85, Low 57
Oregon
Oregon continues to battle extensive fire activity across federal, state, and private lands under Northwest Area coordination.
The Big Grass fire southwest of Jordan Valley spans 578,637 acres (93% contained), showing creeping, torching, and smoldering. The Rowe Creek Complex south of Fossil stands at 373,981 acres (91% contained) with minimal backing, creeping, and smoldering.
The Grasshopper fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest has burned 93,562 acres (76% contained) with active uphill runs, flanking, and group torching, with the team also managing the Austin fire (4,808 acres) and The Narrows fire (212 acres).
The Hagen fire (59,559 acres; 19% contained) and Paradise fire (7,700 acres; 0% contained) in the Umatilla National Forest are displaying active flanking, backing, and isolated torching.
The Wrights Spring fire near Sprague River covers 54,325 acres (55% contained) with creeping, isolated torching, and short-range spotting. Additional incidents include Second Flat (105,854 acres), 0587 Shingle (73,183 acres), Egypt (4,553 acres), Picture Rock (1,228 acres), Fielder Mtn (573 acres), Rosenbaum (483 acres), and the new North Pole fire (100 acres).
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Pendleton — Sunny, High 82, Low 49
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Medford — Sunny, High 94, Low 58
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Portland — Partly Cloudy, High 78, Low 58
California
Northern California and Southern California are both at Preparedness Level 3, each managing one uncontained large fire.
The MP18 fire, located two miles north of Hoopa on the Hoopa Wildland Fire Department jurisdiction, has burned 7,610 acres (74% contained) in timber and brush, displaying moderate flanking, backing, and smoldering while threatening communications infrastructure.
The Timber fire in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Big Sur has reached 8,665 acres (25% contained) with active uphill runs, flanking, and single tree torching, threatening numerous residences and critical infrastructure.
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Sacramento — Partly Cloudy, High 96, Low 62
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Fresno — Partly Cloudy, High 101, Low 72
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Los Angeles — Sunny, High 92, Low 71
Idaho
Idaho manages active incidents across both the Northern Rockies and Great Basin geographic areas.
In northern Idaho, the Upper Smith fire (4,221 acres; 38% contained), Cascade fire (4,100 acres; 50% contained), Moose Mountain fire (3,841 acres; 8% contained), Grotto fire (1,000 acres), Three Links fire (510 acres), and Porcupine fire (130 acres) remain active.
In southern Idaho, the Crooked fire on the Boise National Forest has burned 1,038 acres with torching and flanking. Other southern Idaho incidents include North Heglar (1,844 acres), Doublesprings (1,779 acres), and the new Shale Butte (1,000 acres) and Fraser (300 acres) fires.
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Boise — Sunny, High 89, Low 61
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Pocatello — Sunny, High 89, Low 55
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is tracking 18 uncontained large fires, with heavy activity across western and central Montana.
The Sand Creek fire (32,306 acres; 10% contained) and Bobcat Lakes fire (10,005 acres; 40% contained) near Wisdom are exhibiting flanking, creeping, and isolated torching. The Moose fire southwest of Philipsburg covers 5,965 acres (6% contained).
The Windmill fire in Stillwater County has reached 4,253 acres (57% contained) with minimal backing, creeping, and smoldering. The Deer Creek fire west of Marion covers 724 acres (0% contained) with backing, flanking, and isolated torching. Other active fires in the state include Silvertip (6,737 acres), Skillet (3,369 acres), Black Bear (2,126 acres), Sarpy (897 acres), Ant Park (400 acres), Cherry Peak (204 acres), and North Fork Lost Horse (118 acres).
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Missoula — Partly Cloudy, High 82, Low 47
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Helena — Sunny, High 86, Low 49
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Great Falls — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 53
Wyoming
The West Coal Creek fire in Campbell County, 45 miles north of Gillette, has burned 896 acres (90% contained) in timber, showing minimal fire behavior.
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Casper — Thunderstorms, High 93, Low 57
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Cheyenne — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 60
Nevada
Nevada continues to manage significant acreage under Great Basin coordination.
The Bug fire in the Carson City District northwest of Cold Springs stands at 93,733 acres (94% contained) with minimal smoldering.
The Mouse Meadow fire on the Nellis Air Force Base range spans 52,000 acres (80% contained) with creeping and smoldering.
The Shoshone fire northeast of Fallon has burned 24,513 acres (82% contained) with flanking and backing.
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Reno — Smoke, High 94, Low 62
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Las Vegas — Sunny, High 109, Low 85
Utah
The Great Basin Area is coordinating several large incidents across Utah.
The Rocky Canyon fire southwest of Henefer covers 16,464 acres (96% contained). The Black Canyon fire southwest of Price stands at 3,264 acres (78% contained) with flanking, backing, and single tree torching.
Other active fires include Slough Canyon (3,000 acres; 0% contained) exhibiting crowning, uphill runs, and torching, and the Salt Wells fire (585 acres; 90% contained) southwest of Tremonton.
- Salt Lake City — Thunderstorms, High 93, Low 68
Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Area is coordinating six uncontained large fires.
The Aspen Acres fire in Custer County southwest of Pueblo spans 102,004 acres (77% contained) with creeping and smoldering.
The Gold Mountain fire (39,718 acres; 87% contained) near Ouray and the Elk fire (7,257 acres; 33% contained) near Lake City in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests show creeping, single tree torching, and smoldering. Crews are also managing the Willow fire (7,534 acres; 80% contained) near Leadville.
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Grand Junction — Partly Cloudy, High 95, Low 67
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Pueblo — Thunderstorms, High 96, Low 62
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Denver — Thunderstorms, High 93, Low 64
Arizona
Hot and dry conditions prevail across Arizona with scattered thunderstorm potential over the higher terrain. Relative humidity levels will drop into the 8 to 20% range, accompanied by high temperatures ranging from 100 to 115°F over southern Arizona.
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Flagstaff — Thunderstorms, High 85, Low 56
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Phoenix — Very Hot, High 112, Low 89
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Tucson — Thunderstorms, High 106, Low 77
New Mexico
The Southwest Area is coordinating one uncontained large fire in New Mexico.
The Frijoles fire in the Santa Fe National Forest east of Cundiyo has burned 15,220 acres (42% contained) with moderate flanking, backing, and isolated torching, threatening numerous residences and communication infrastructure. The Cooper fire in the Capitan District is now 100% contained at 575 acres.
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Santa Fe — Thunderstorms, High 92, Low 61
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Albuquerque — Sunny, High 97, Low 67
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Aug 23, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service