Wildfire Report

The U.S. remains at Preparedness Level 5, with 98 uncontained large fires burning across the country.

                                           

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National Overview

National Overview

The U.S. remains at Preparedness Level 5, with 98 uncontained large fires burning across the country and 29,840 personnel assigned nationally, including 628 crews, 1,804 engines, and 183 helicopters. 

NIFC reports 3,736,624 acres burned on large fires, a figure that continues to grow as new incidents develop and mapping in the Northwest catches up to fire growth. 

The Northwest remains the dominant story nationally, with 46 uncontained large fires in the region. 

Humidity is slowly moderating across the Inland Northwest and northern Rockies, with near to slightly above normal temperatures and improved overnight recovery resulting in shorter burn periods in those areas. 

Conversely, inland California, the northern Great Basin, and much of Wyoming will see persistent very low relative humidity of 5 to 15 percent, poor overnight recovery, and temperatures 5 to 15°F above normal. 

Isolated to scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are expected from the eastern Sierra across the central and southern Great Basin into Utah, Colorado, and the Southwest, with the driest and most ignition-prone storms targeting central Nevada, northern Utah, and northwest Colorado. 

No significant rain is forecast for the next seven to ten days across the Northwest.


Washington

Washington carries more than 20 active large incidents, with several continuing to draw the bulk of resources in Okanogan, Chelan, and Ferry counties and in the Spokane area. 

The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has grown to 111,429 acres and remains only 2% contained; a transfer of command from CIMT (CA Team 2) to CIMT (NW Team 12) is occurring today, with extreme fire behavior continuing including crowning, uphill runs, and long-range spotting, and numerous structures and critical infrastructure threatened. 

The Sinlahekin fire, one mile west of Tonasket, has now reached 141,411 acres at 42% containment, with active torching, short-range spotting, and smoldering, and residences and critical infrastructure threatened. 

The Kaiser Canyon fire stands at 138,235 acres and 63% containment, with a reduction in acreage attributed to more accurate mapping. 

The Ptarmigan fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, managed by NIMO Team 3, has grown to 22,682 acres at 8% containment, with active uphill runs, group torching, and spotting. 

The Three Queens fire near Snoqualmie Pass has grown to 2,000 acres and remains uncontained, with active wind-driven runs and short-range spotting and evacuations in effect. 

New this report, the Modrite fire in the Northeast Region has reached 57,133 acres at 60% containment, with active flanking, group torching, and uphill runs and numerous residences threatened. 

Multiple additional incidents in the Spokane vicinity — Old Trails, Autumn Lane, and Fairview — remain active with moderate behavior near populated areas, and evacuations are in effect around all three. 

Humidity is slowly moderating across eastern Washington, with improved overnight recovery and shorter burn periods expected compared to last week's worst days, though smoke and haze remain widespread.

  • Wenatchee — near 90, dry, patchy smoke, light winds
  • Spokane — upper-80s, widespread smoke and haze, light winds
  • Okanogan — upper-80s, smoke, isolated torching visible in surrounding terrain

Oregon

Oregon leads all states with more than 23 active large incidents consuming well over 1.8 million acres — a season total that has already broken or is approaching all-time records across multiple measures. 

The Big Grass fire in Malheur County, managed by CIMT (NW Team 10) following a transfer of command today from CIMT (CA Team 5), remains the single largest active incident in the country at 541,079 acres and 41% containment, with active wind-driven runs, short-range spotting, and single tree torching, and numerous structures and critical infrastructure threatened.

 The Rowe Creek Complex in the Prineville District stands at 366,617 acres and 79% containment. 

The Coleman Creek fire in the Burns District is at 308,721 acres and 89% contained. 

The Wrights Spring fire in the Fremont-Winema National Forest has exploded in size, now reaching 33,970 acres, up more than 10,500 acres overnight, with zero containment and extreme fire behavior including crowning, running, and spotting; evacuations and road closures are in effect two miles west of Sprague River. 

The Grasshopper fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest has grown to 57,087 acres at 23% containment, with a second CIMT (SA Team 2) now mobilizing to support CIMT (CA Team 6); active short-range spotting, uphill runs, and flanking continue. 

The Hagen fire in the Umatilla National Forest has grown to 46,527 acres with only 11% containment, with active uphill runs and spotting and numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened. 

The new Fox fire in the Vale District has reached 79,000 acres and 64% containment, with a transfer of command between Southwest teams occurring today. 

The 0587 Shingle fire in the Fossil Unit has grown to 73,101 acres at 86% containment. 

Humidity moderates slightly in the Inland Northwest today, but Cascade gap flow continues, and very low relative humidity across eastern Oregon keeps fire danger elevated.

  • Pendleton — upper-80s, very dry, light to moderate westerly winds
  • Bend — mid-80s, dry, mostly clear
  • Medford — upper-80s, warm, dry

California

California reports active large incidents in both the Northern and Southern California GACCs. 

The MP18 fire near Hoopa in Humboldt County, now at 1,500 acres and only 10% contained, continues to exhibit extreme fire behavior with uphill runs and crowning, with residences threatened and CIMT (CA Team 1) assigned.

 The Gann fire in Tuolumne-Calaveras County has modestly decreased in mapped acreage to 10,339 acres at 72% containment, with minimal smoldering behavior and critical infrastructure threatened. 

The Ridge fire in Los Angeles County stands at 1,134 acres and 85% contained. 

The Buzzard fire in Kern County is at 902 acres and 87% contained. 

A new fire, the Antelope, sparked in San Luis Obispo County at 2,410 acres and zero containment, with minimal fire behavior. 

Inland California, particularly the Central Valley and Northern Interior, will see persistent very low relative humidity and temperatures approaching or exceeding 100°F today, with poor overnight humidity recovery keeping fuels critically receptive. 

Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms remain possible east of the Sierra crest, with some ignition potential across the northern Great Basin.

  • Redding — near 100, extreme heat, very dry
  • Chico — mid-90s, hot, dry
  • South Lake Tahoe — upper-70s, dry, isolated thunderstorm risk east of the crest

Idaho

Idaho carries active incidents totaling significant acreage across the Boise, Great Basin, and Northern Rockies GACCs. 

The Tartar fire in the Boise District remains the largest Idaho incident at 158,027 acres and 89% contained, now showing only moderate creeping and torching behavior. 

The MM115 Hwy 20 fire in Elmore County remains at 4,936 acres and 20% contained, with flanking, backing, and single tree torching, and structures and communication infrastructure threatened and evacuations in effect. 

The Doublesprings fire in the Salmon-Challis National Forest is a new significant incident at 1,603 acres and 5% containment, with isolated torching and backing. 

The Lake fire in the Payette National Forest has grown to 169 acres with zero containment and active single tree torching, and numerous structures are threatened. 

The Upper Smith fire in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest is at 3,417 acres and 32% contained, with flanking, torching, and creeping, and structures and energy infrastructure threatened. 

Persistent hot and dry conditions keep fire danger elevated across southwest and central Idaho.

  • Boise — mid-90s, hot, dry
  • Lewiston — low-90s, smoke, dry
  • Twin Falls — low-to-mid 90s, hot, dry

Montana

Montana reports more than 10 active large incidents across the Northern Rockies GACC. 

The Sand Creek fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has grown dramatically to 11,696 acres — up nearly 2,800 acres overnight — and remains at zero containment, with extreme fire behavior including running, group torching, and spotting, and numerous structures threatened and evacuations in effect. 

The Bobcat Lakes fire, also in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, has grown to 7,019 acres and remains uncontained, with CIMT (NR Team 3) mobilizing; wind-driven runs, group torching, and spotting continue with structures threatened and evacuations in effect. 

The Silvertip fire in the Flathead National Forest has grown to 6,486 acres and remains uncontained. 

The Skillet fire on the Flathead National Forest is at 3,298 acres and 26% contained, with moderate group torching, spotting, and backing, and railroad infrastructure threatened. 

The Moose fire in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge has grown to 4,314 acres with zero containment, exhibiting short crown runs and group torching. 

The new Black Bear fire in the Bitterroot National Forest has reached 1,469 acres and zero containment. 

Humidity slowly moderates in western Montana through today and Wednesday, with a slight increase in overnight recovery; smoke from regional fires continues to reduce visibility across much of the state.

  • Missoula — upper-80s, smoke, dry
  • Helena — upper-80s, dry, afternoon winds
  • Great Falls — upper-80s, dry, breezy

Wyoming

Wyoming's large fire footprint centers on the Bare fire in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, which remains at 443 acres and only 1% containment, with active flanking, group torching, and short-range spotting, and structures and energy infrastructure threatened. 

A significant new incident, the Weiser Knoll fire in the Wind River/Bighorn Basin District, has sparked at 3,000 acres and zero containment, with extreme fire behavior including wind-driven runs and short-range spotting, and residences threatened. 

The driest and most ignition-prone mixed thunderstorms forecast for today are expected to affect portions of Wyoming, including the northeast, elevating the risk of new starts in dry grass and brush fuels across the afternoon hours.

  • Casper — upper-80s, dry, isolated storm risk
  • Sheridan — mid-80s, haze, dry
  • Lander — upper-80s, dry, afternoon winds

Nevada

Nevada carries 3 active large incidents. 

The Mouse Meadow fire at Nellis Air Force Base is at 51,015 acres and 65% contained, with flanking, backing, and creeping behavior and evacuations in effect. 

The New Pass fire in the Carson City District stands at 37,899 acres and 81% contained. 

The Ward fire in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest near Ely has decreased in mapped acreage to 8,683 acres at 67% containment following more accurate mapping, and a transfer of command back to the local unit is occurring today following precipitation over the fire area yesterday. 

A new fire, the Bug, in the Carson City District near the California border, has reached 7,500 acres and only 3% containment, with active wind-driven runs, flanking, and short-range spotting, and numerous structures and critical infrastructure threatened and evacuations in effect. 

Central Nevada is in the target zone for the driest mixed thunderstorms today, with the highest new-ignition potential of any area in the country.

  • Elko — upper-80s, dry, breezy
  • Winnemucca — low-90s, hot, dry
  • Reno — low-90s, isolated storm risk, afternoon winds

Utah

Utah's fire situation remains serious, with critical conditions persisting across the central part of the state. 

The Widemouth 2 fire in the Fishlake National Forest has grown to 118,086 acres — up more than 3,000 acres overnight — and containment has dropped to 26%, with extreme fire behavior continuing including crowning, group torching, and long-range spotting, and numerous structures and critical infrastructure threatened and evacuations in effect. 

The Rocky Canyon fire near Hennifer has grown to 4,372 acres — up more than 3,000 acres — and remains uncontained, with extreme fire behavior including torching, running, and uphill runs, and residences threatened. 

The Black Canyon fire in the Manti-La Sal National Forest stands at 3,476 acres and zero containment, with active uphill runs, torching, and short-range spotting, and evacuations in effect. 

NIFC's fuels and fire behavior advisory for Central Utah remains in effect, reflecting critically dry conditions. 

Isolated to scattered mixed thunderstorms with the highest ignition potential across the nation are forecast for northern Utah today, raising concerns for new starts in already taxed dispatch zones.

  • Salt Lake City — mid-90s, hot, isolated storm risk
  • Provo — low-90s, dry, afternoon winds
  • Cedar City — low-to-mid 90s, hot, very dry

Colorado

Colorado has 7 active large incidents. 

The Aspen Acres fire in Custer County remains the largest at 101,965 acres and 72% contained, now showing only minimal backing and creeping behavior. 

The Gold Mountain fire on the Grand Mesa, managed alongside the Elk fire by CIMT (RM Team 2), stands at 39,532 acres and 90% contained. 

The Elk fire — seven miles northwest of Lake City — continues active burning at 7,071 acres and 33% containment, with uphill runs, flanking, and group torching, and numerous structures threatened and evacuations in effect. 

The Willow fire near Leadville stands at 7,534 acres and 67% containment. 

A new incident, the 310 fire in Garfield County one mile east of Battlement Mesa, is at 603 acres and 47% contained, with minimal flanking and smoldering behavior and numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened. 

The Rio Blanco fire in the San Juan National Forest is at 1,388 acres and 79% contained. 

Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are forecast today for northwest Colorado, with moderate ignition potential in dry fuels ahead of a stronger moisture push mid-week.

  • Grand Junction — low-to-mid 90s, hot, isolated storm risk
  • Pueblo — upper-80s, dry, breezy
  • Gunnison — mid-80s, dry, afternoon winds

Arizona

Arizona's large-fire footprint on the IMSR is limited to the Foster fire in the Colorado River District, a new incident at 311 acres and zero containment near Winterhaven with active torching and short-range spotting. 

Monsoon activity is the primary variable today. 

Wetter storms are expected to be scattered near and south of the Mogollon Rim, providing meaningful relative humidity recovery in those areas, while isolated mixed wet and dry storms in northern Arizona and the southern Great Basin carry some ignition potential in drier fuels. 

Thunderstorm outflow winds can still produce sudden and erratic behavior on existing incidents, and new lightning ignitions away from storm cores cannot be ruled out.

  • Flagstaff — mid-70s, likely storms, breezy
  • Prescott — upper-80s, hot, isolated storms
  • Tucson — around 100, hot, isolated storms

New Mexico

New Mexico shows active incidents across multiple counties. 

The Frijoles fire in the Santa Fe National Forest has grown dramatically to 3,000 acres — up 2,000 acres overnight — and remains at zero containment, now with CIMT (CA Team 8) mobilizing; the fire is burning in timber and grass three miles east of Cundiyo with active short crown runs, spotting, and flanking, and residences and communication infrastructure threatened. 

The Johnson fire in the Gila National Forest has grown to 426 acres and zero containment, with moderate creeping, smoldering, and backing and structures threatened. 

The Frio fire near Albuquerque is at 152 acres and 75% contained. 

Lightning remains an active ignition concern today, particularly where storms produce little rainfall, and thunderstorm outflows can generate sudden wind shifts near existing incidents.

  • Santa Fe — upper-80s, warm, isolated storm risk
  • Albuquerque — low-90s, hot, breezy
  • Gallup — mid-80s, dry, isolated storms

Sources: NIFC/NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Aug 10, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, WFIGS, FireRisk.ai, National Weather Service, AccuWeather



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