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 225 new fires reported nationwide yesterday. Firefighters are currently working to contain 86 uncontained large fires, with 13 new large incidents emerging and 22,183 total personnel assigned to incidents nationwide. So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 51,063 wildfires that have burned 7,831,676 acres across the United States.
An international contingent from Australia and New Zealand — two 15-member incident management teams and 212 fireline 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) remain 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. On August 23, an incident support crewmember with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service experienced a fatal medical emergency while assigned to the Frijoles incident in New Mexico.
Lightning activity is expected to trend downward across much of the West compared to Monday, with mainly isolated mixed wet/dry thunderstorms favoring southwest Montana into central Idaho and northwest Wyoming, as well as the eastern Great Basin into the Southwest. Warmer-than-normal conditions will persist across the West, with extreme heat dominating southeast California, central/southern Arizona, and parts of New Mexico where lower-elevation highs will approach record values of 100°F to 115°F as the monsoon wanes. Expect locally breezy westerly winds along the eastern slopes of the southern Cascades into southeast Oregon and the Sierra Front, with generally light winds elsewhere in the West. A slow-moving moist front backing in from the east will boost wetting thunderstorm coverage for Colorado (east of the Divide) and northeast New Mexico. Ahead of the cold front, abnormally hot conditions, gusty southerly winds, and single-digit to low-double-digit RH persist from Texas into southern Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Washington
The Northwest Area remains at Preparedness Level 5, with 31 uncontained large fires active across the geographic area.
The Sinlahekin fire near Tonasket stands at 155,227 acres (53% contained) with moderate fire behavior including single tree torching, backing, and creeping. The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest 30 miles northwest of Leavenworth has burned 146,042 acres (21% contained) with active flanking, backing, and single tree torching, with its incident management team also managing the Sisi fire (878 acres; 0% contained).
The Kaiser Canyon fire (138,293 acres; 98% contained) south of Nespelem and the Modrite fire (57,594 acres; 98% contained) southwest of Inchelium are showing minimal fire behavior with smoldering, backing, and creeping. Transfer of command for Kaiser Canyon back to the local unit will occur today.
The Colwash fire west of Mabton has burned 39,073 acres (42% contained). The Three Queens fire (6,968 acres; 13% contained) east of Snoqualmie Pass exhibits group torching, flanking, and backing, with its team also managing the Grand Park 2 fire (168 acres; 82% contained), King fire (558 acres; 0% contained), Goat fire (71 acres; 0% contained), and the Wonderland fire (8 acres; 0% contained). Other active incidents across Washington include Ptarmigan (24,770 acres; 55% contained), Border 2 (7,467 acres; 41% contained), Luna (4,776 acres; 0% contained), and the High Lava fire (1,915 acres; 25% contained).
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Spokane — Sunny, High 95, Low 59
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Seattle — Partly Cloudy, High 86, Low 57
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Yakima — Smoke, High 94, Low 63
Oregon
Oregon continues to battle extensive fire activity under Northwest Area coordination.
The Big Grass fire southwest of Jordan Valley spans 578,637 acres (93% contained), exhibiting active torching, wind-driven runs, 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 93,744 acres (76% contained) with active uphill runs, flanking, and group torching, with its team also managing the Austin fire (5,620 acres; 0% contained) and The Narrows fire (232 acres; 0% contained).
The Hagen fire (59,939 acres; 28% contained) and Paradise fire (8,213 acres; 0% contained) in the Umatilla National Forest are displaying active fire behavior with uphill runs, flanking, backing, and torching.
The Wrights Spring fire near Sprague River covers 54,492 acres (65% contained) with creeping, isolated torching, and short-range spotting. The McCully fire southwest of Baker City has grown to 4,315 acres (0% contained) with extreme fire behavior, crowning, spotting, and torching, with its team also managing the North Pole fire (310 acres; 0% contained). Additional incidents include 0587 Shingle (73,183 acres; 95% contained), Egypt (4,553 acres; 82% contained), Picture Rock (1,228 acres; 75% contained), Fielder Mtn (573 acres; 93% contained), and the Rosenbaum fire (483 acres; 89% contained).
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Pendleton — Smoke, High 93, Low 56
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Medford — Sunny, High 97, Low 58
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Portland — Partly Cloudy, High 88, Low 59
California
Northern California and Southern California are both at Preparedness Level 3.
In Northern California, the MP18 fire north of Hoopa on the Hoopa Wildland Fire Department jurisdiction has burned 7,601 acres (91% contained) in timber and brush, displaying moderate flanking, backing, and smoldering while threatening communications infrastructure. The new 4-1 fire southwest of Davis Creek has burned 470 acres (0% contained) with moderate uphill runs, flanking, and backing.
In Southern California, the Timber fire in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Big Sur has reached 12,915 acres (26% contained) with moderate fire behavior, threatening numerous residences and critical infrastructure.
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Sacramento — Mostly Cloudy, High 94, Low 62
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Fresno — Sunny, High 102, Low 73
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Los Angeles — Partly Cloudy, High 96, Low 71
Idaho
Idaho manages active incidents across both the Northern Rockies and Great Basin geographic areas.
In northern Idaho, the Upper Smith fire (4,442 acres; 36% contained) and Moose Mountain fire (4,207 acres; 8% contained) show active flanking, backing, and creeping. Other active northern fires include Cascade (4,100 acres; 50% contained), Grotto (1,000 acres; 0% contained), Three Links (510 acres; 0% contained), and the Porcupine fire (130 acres; 0% contained).
In southern Idaho, the Crooked fire on the Boise National Forest has burned 1,931 acres (0% contained) with active torching and flanking. The North Heglar fire covers 1,844 acres (87% contained), Doublesprings spans 1,779 acres (18% contained), Shale Butte stands at 1,691 acres (100% contained), and the new Flint fire southwest of Nampa has reached 750 acres (0% contained).
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Boise — Sunny, High 96, Low 67
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Pocatello — Thunderstorms, High 90, Low 55
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is at Preparedness Level 3, tracking 17 uncontained large fires.
The Sand Creek fire (33,088 acres; 14% contained) and Bobcat Lakes fire (10,030 acres; 40% contained) near Wisdom are exhibiting moderate flanking, creeping, and torching, with transfer of command to CIMT Northern Rockies Team 1 occurring today. The Moose fire southwest of Philipsburg covers 5,965 acres (10% contained).
The Windmill fire in Stillwater County has reached 4,253 acres (100% contained). Other active fires in the state include Silvertip (6,847 acres; 15% contained), Skillet (3,384 acres; 82% contained), Black Bear (2,126 acres; 22% contained), Deer Creek (960 acres; 0% contained), Sarpy (897 acres; 80% contained), Cherry Peak (200 acres; 44% contained), Nature Grove (153 acres; 0% contained), and the North Fork Lost Horse fire (118 acres; 70% contained).
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Missoula — Smoke, High 91, Low 54
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Helena — Partly Cloudy, High 85, Low 52
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Great Falls — Sunny, High 82, Low 53
Nevada
Nevada continues to manage significant acreage under Great Basin coordination.
The Mouse Meadow fire on the Nellis Air Force Base range spans 52,000 acres (90% contained) with creeping and smoldering.
The Hawk fire north of Reno has burned 15,051 acres (27% contained) with creeping and smoldering, threatening numerous structures.
Two new large incidents have emerged near Wells: the Oxley fire (3,500 acres; 0% contained) showing extreme fire behavior with uphill and wind-driven runs, and the Forleen fire (300 acres; 0% contained) with active uphill and wind-driven runs. The Master fire southwest of Deeth stands at 446 acres (75% contained).
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Reno — Mostly Cloudy, High 93, Low 63
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Las Vegas — Sunny, High 107, Low 86
Utah
The Great Basin Area is coordinating large incidents across Utah.
The Black Canyon fire southwest of Price stands at 3,264 acres (83% contained) with minimal smoldering and creeping.
The Slough Canyon fire east of Price covers 2,898 acres (0% contained) with active uphill runs, group torching, and running.
- Salt Lake City — Sunny, High 93, Low 70
Wyoming
Wyoming currently has no uncontained large wildfires reported, though isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms favor northwest Wyoming today amid warmer-than-normal regional conditions.
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Casper — Partly Cloudy, High 84, Low 53
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Cheyenne — Thunderstorms, High 83, Low 54
Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Area is at Preparedness Level 2, coordinating five uncontained large fires.
The Aspen Acres fire in Custer County southwest of Pueblo spans 102,004 acres (77% contained) with minimal fire behavior, creeping, smoldering, and single tree torching.
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 — Sunny, High 95, Low 66
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Pueblo — Thunderstorms, High 93, Low 60
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Denver — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 60
Arizona
Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected across parts of the Southwest and eastern Great Basin, with extreme heat approaching record values of 100°F to 115°F in lower elevations as the monsoon wanes.
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Flagstaff — Thunderstorms, High 85, Low 52
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Phoenix — Very Hot, High 113, Low 89
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Tucson — Very Hot, High 106, Low 79
New Mexico
The Southwest Area is at Preparedness Level 2, tracking three uncontained large fires.
The Frijoles fire in the Santa Fe National Forest east of Cundiyo has burned 15,226 acres (46% contained) with moderate fire behavior, threatening numerous residences and communication infrastructure.
New large incidents in the state include the Rabbit Ear East fire (1,500 acres; 70% contained) southeast of Clayton displaying active running and torching, the Laughlin fire (786 acres; 100% contained), and the Sunset fire (111 acres; 0% contained) southwest of Arabela.
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Santa Fe — Sunny, High 93, Low 60
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Albuquerque — Sunny, High 97, Low 69
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Tue Aug 25, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service