Wildfire Report
Daily Tech Reader - Wildfire Edition
National Overview
Wildfire Report — National Overview
The U.S. is at Preparedness Level 2.
Initial attack activity across the country is light, with 88 new fires reported nationwide yesterday.
Firefighters are currently working to manage 31 uncontained large fires, with 1 new large incident emerging, 1 large fire contained, and 9,701 total personnel assigned to incidents nationwide.
Nationally, 6 Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) are committed.
So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 56,794 wildfires that have burned 8,554,955 acres across the United States.
The lower Mississippi Valley will be the main area of concern today as warm temperatures and dry relative humidities re-establish after isolated thunderstorms moved over the area yesterday.
Relative humidity will fall to 35–40% as temperatures rise back into the low to mid-90s, with a few isolated thunderstorms expected today as well.
The reorientation of the high-pressure ridge over the Southeast will allow southerly flow to draw another round of monsoonal moisture into New Mexico and eastern Arizona, where 2 to 5 inches of rain is expected today.
Breezy west winds will develop through Cascade gaps this afternoon with gusts to 35 mph, slightly stronger than yesterday, including through the Columbia Gorge.
Relative humidity will drop to 10–20% across Northern California with breezy winds and poor overnight humidity recovery again today, though significant fire potential will remain low.
A weak cold front moving south through the southern plains will continue to bring isolated showers and thunderstorms to parts of Texas and western Oklahoma.
Washington
The Northwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, coordinating 13 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest stands at 172,836 acres (81% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping, backing, and smoldering under CIMT (NW Team 13); the team is also managing the Sisi incident. The Sisi fire covers 3,908 acres (15% contained) with active fire behavior with backing, flanking, and isolated torching. Residences and energy infrastructure remain threatened by the Sisi fire. The Sinlahekin fire near Tonasket spans 166,005 acres (92% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering, with area, road, and trail closures remaining in effect.
The Three Queens fire east of Snoqualmie Pass covers 9,572 acres (31% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping, isolated torching, and smoldering. Numerous residences and critical infrastructure are threatened near Three Queens, with evacuations, area, road, and trail closures in effect. The King fire covers 3,335 acres (20% contained) and the Goat fire covers 815 acres (80% contained), both exhibiting minimal fire behavior with creeping, isolated torching, and smoldering. In North Cascades National Park, the Border 2 fire covers 9,108 acres (75% contained) with moderate fire behavior with backing, flanking, and creeping while threatening structures.
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Spokane — Mostly Cloudy, High 77, Low 48
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Seattle — Rain, High 68, Low 52
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Yakima — Partly Cloudy, High 78, Low 48
Oregon
Oregon continues to manage extensive wildland fire operations under Northwest Area coordination.
The Rowe Creek Complex south of Fossil stands at 373,927 acres (99% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering under CIMT (ODF Team 1). The Grasshopper fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest spans 93,971 acres (98% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping. The Austin fire has burned 12,882 acres (98% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering and creeping under CIMT (CA Team 2). The team is also managing The Narrows (305 acres; 98% contained) and Grasshopper incidents.
The Hagen fire east of Pendleton covers 61,379 acres (91% contained) under CIMT (NW Team 7), displaying minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. The Paradise fire in the Umatilla National Forest spans 9,656 acres (86% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering, with critical infrastructure remaining threatened.
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Pendleton — Mostly Cloudy, High 75, Low 46
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Medford — Mostly Cloudy, High 78, Low 47
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Portland — Mostly Cloudy, High 72, Low 53
California
Northern California is operating at Preparedness Level 2, and Southern California is operating at Preparedness Level 3.
In Northern California, the Floriston fire northeast of Truckee covers 622 acres (85% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area closures remain in effect. The Chileno fire east of Tomales covers 341 acres (75% contained) with minimal fire behavior, and structures remain threatened.
In Southern California, two CIMTs are committed. The Dome fire in Yosemite National Park spans 3,420 acres (15% contained) under CIMT (CA Team 3), displaying moderate fire behavior with flanking, uphill runs, and single tree torching. NICC reports that a helicopter contracted by the US Forest Service was involved in an accident on the Dome fire on September 20, killing both pilots. The Timber fire in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Big Sur stands at 25,436 acres (59% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and backing; numerous structures and communication infrastructure remain threatened. The Plaskett fire southwest of Big Sur spans 29,993 acres (97% contained) under CIMT (CA Team 6), exhibiting minimal fire behavior with creeping and backing. The CIMT is also managing the Timber incident.
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Sacramento — Partly Cloudy, High 84, Low 56
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Fresno — Sunny, High 88, Low 63
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Los Angeles — Mostly Cloudy, High 79, Low 63
Idaho
Idaho coordinates wildland fire operations across both the Northern Rockies and Great Basin geographic areas.
In northern Idaho within the Northern Rockies Area, the Upper Smith fire west of Porthill covers 4,848 acres (41% contained) in timber, medium slash, and brush, exhibiting minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Road and trail closures remain in effect.
In southern and central Idaho within the Great Basin Area (Preparedness Level 2), no uncontained large fires are currently reported.
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Boise — Partly Cloudy, High 83, Low 57
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Pocatello — Showers, High 70, Low 41
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 4 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Sand Creek fire east of Wisdom spans 35,520 acres (71% contained) with minimal fire behavior with backing, creeping, and smoldering. Structures and communication infrastructure are threatened, with area, road, and trail closures in effect. The Davis Coulee fire southwest of Crow Agency stands at 15,470 acres (50% contained) in grass and brush.
Additional active fires across Montana include Nature Grove on the Bitterroot National Forest (1,422 acres; 0% contained).
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Missoula — Partly Cloudy, High 79, Low 47
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Helena — Partly Cloudy, High 77, Low 48
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Great Falls — Sunny, High 80, Low 52
Nevada
The Great Basin Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2, reporting no active uncontained large fires currently burning across Nevada.
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Reno — Sunny, High 84, Low 53
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Las Vegas — Sunny, High 89, Low 71
Utah
The Great Basin Area coordinates fire operations across Utah, reporting no uncontained large fires currently active.
- Salt Lake City — Showers, High 76, Low 54
Wyoming
Wyoming coordinates fire response under the Rocky Mountain Area (Preparedness Level 2).
The Moonshine fire southwest of Wheatland covers 7,325 acres (61% contained) in timber and brush, exhibiting minimal fire behavior with backing. Residences remain threatened.
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Casper — Sunny, High 78, Low 51
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Cheyenne — Sunny, High 76, Low 50
Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2, coordinating 3 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Swiss Roll fire east of Pagosa Springs in the San Juan National Forest covers 777 acres (36% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Energy infrastructure is threatened, and road and trail closures remain in effect. The Elk fire in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests spans 7,257 acres (73% contained).
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Grand Junction — Showers, High 81, Low 57
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Pueblo — Thunderstorms, High 81, Low 57
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Denver — Thunderstorms, High 81, Low 55
Arizona
The Southwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, reporting no uncontained large fires active across Arizona.
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Flagstaff — Partly Cloudy, High 73, Low 43
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Phoenix — Very Hot, High 100, Low 83
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Tucson — Thunderstorms, High 92, Low 70
New Mexico
The Southwest Area is coordinating active suppression on large fires across New Mexico.
The Whiskey fire northwest of Mountainair in the Cibola National Forest stands at 542 acres (75% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area, road, and trail closures are in effect.
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Santa Fe — Showers, High 75, Low 53
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Albuquerque — Showers, High 78, Low 57
Texas
The Southern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, tracking active incidents across Texas.
The Hydra fire south of Meridian spans 933 acres (66% contained) in brush and grass, displaying minimal fire behavior with smoldering. The Mud Bayou fire at McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge is 100% contained at 9,717 acres.
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Dallas-Fort Worth — Sunny, High 96, Low 76
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Austin — Thunderstorms, High 99, Low 76
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Waco — Thunderstorms, High 97, Low 74
Oklahoma
The Southern Area coordinates suppression across active Oklahoma fires.
The Gracemont fire on the Anadarko Agency east of Binger covers 2,690 acres (90% contained) in timber. It exhibits moderate fire behavior with creeping and smoldering, and 31 structures are reported lost.
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Oklahoma City — Partly Cloudy, High 85, Low 63
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Tulsa — Partly Cloudy, High 84, Low 63
Arkansas
The Southern Area coordinates large incident response in Arkansas.
The Bunker fire east of East Camden covers 2,849 acres (90% contained) with minimal fire behavior with flanking and backing. This is the last report unless significant activity occurs.
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Little Rock — Partly Cloudy, High 89, Low 65
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Fort Smith — Showers, High 90, Low 67
Louisiana
The Southern Area coordinates active large incident suppression across Louisiana.
The Round Prarie fire northwest of Bastrop covers 739 acres (60% contained) in southern rough. It displays active fire behavior with wind-driven runs and short crown runs.
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New Orleans — Sunny, High 92, Low 77
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Baton Rouge — Thunderstorms, High 95, Low 73
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Shreveport — Thunderstorms, High 97, Low 73
Missouri
The Eastern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 1 uncontained large fire across the region.
The Tabor fire southwest of Pomona in the Mark Twain National Forest covers 300 acres (99% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. This is the last report unless significant activity occurs.
- St. Louis — Mostly Cloudy, High 75, Low 59
Florida
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Florida.
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Orlando — Thunderstorms, High 91, Low 75
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Tampa — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 76
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Miami Beach — Thunderstorms, High 87, Low 76
Georgia
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Georgia.
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Atlanta — Thunderstorms, High 90, Low 71
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Savannah — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 71
South Dakota
The Rocky Mountain Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across South Dakota.
- Rapid City — Cloudy, High 65, Low 51
Minnesota
The Eastern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1 and coordinating one uncontained large fire in Missouri, with no uncontained large fires currently reported in Minnesota.
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Duluth — Sunny, High 57, Low 40
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Minneapolis-St. Paul — Partly Cloudy, High 63, Low 48
Alaska
The Alaska Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating zero uncontained large fires, with cumulative acres standing at 88,956 across 413 fires.
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Anchorage — Mostly Cloudy, High 53, Low 38
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Fairbanks — Mostly Cloudy, High 44, Low 32
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Juneau — Showers, High 54, Low 39
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Tue Sept 22, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service