Wildfire Report
Daily Tech Reader - Wildfire Edition
National Overview
Wildfire Report — National Overview
The U.S. is at Preparedness Level 3.
Initial attack activity across the country is light, with 46 new fires reported nationwide yesterday.
Firefighters are currently working to manage 33 uncontained large fires, with 3 new large incidents emerging, 1 large fire contained, and 10,289 total personnel assigned to incidents nationwide.
Nationally, 7 Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) are committed.
So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 56,651 wildfires that have burned 8,542,800 acres across the United States.
The ridge of high pressure over the southeast will continue to weaken, but temperatures will still rise into the mid to upper 90s this afternoon from the lower Mississippi Valley north through Tennessee. Relative humidity will bottom out near 25-30% again today as well.
In the Pacific Northwest, a trough aloft will bring breezy west winds gusting to 25 mph to cascade gaps and relative humidity will fall to 15-30% again this afternoon east of the Cascades.
Further south, slightly above average temperatures are expected across northern California today along with breezy overnight winds and poor relative humidity recovery after RH falls to 10-20% this afternoon.
Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across southern and western Nevada including across the Sierra Front.
Isolated thunderstorms will also develop across the lower Mississippi Valley and across west Texas today, bringing gusty outflow winds with them.
Conditions trend drier across the desert southwest, though high temperatures remain mostly below normal.
Today will be the driest day of the week across the southern Front Range with relative humidity dropping into the teens.
Washington
The Northwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, coordinating 14 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest stands at 172,814 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 3,731 acres (15% contained) with active fire behavior with backing, flanking, and isolated torching. Residences and energy infrastructure are 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 9,566 acres (23% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping, isolated torching, and smoldering. Transfer of command from CIMT (NW Team 2) back to the local unit will occur today. The CIMT is also managing the King and Goat incidents. The King fire covers 3,314 acres (0% contained) and the Goat fire covers 815 acres (80% contained). All three fires exhibit minimal fire behavior. Numerous residences and critical infrastructure are threatened near Three Queens, with evacuations in effect. Additional active incidents across Washington include Ptarmigan (25,166 acres; 73% contained) and Border 2 (8,707 acres; 74% contained). The Border 2 fire is displaying moderate fire behavior with backing, flanking, and creeping while threatening structures in North Cascades National Park.
-
Spokane — Sunny, High 84, Low 53
-
Seattle — Mostly Cloudy, High 70, Low 54
-
Yakima — Sunny, High 85, Low 55
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 93,966 acres (98% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and torching. The Austin fire has burned 12,882 acres (98% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering 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 (89% contained) under CIMT (NW Team 7), exhibiting minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. There is a reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping. 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.
-
Pendleton — Sunny, High 83, Low 52
-
Medford — Mostly Cloudy, High 84, Low 52
-
Portland — Mostly Cloudy, High 75, Low 56
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 (65% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area and road closures are in effect. The Chileno fire east of Tomales covers 341 acres (5% contained) with active fire behavior, and structures are threatened. The Lucas fire covers 4,128 acres (100% contained).
In Southern California, two CIMTs are committed. The Dome fire in Yosemite National Park spans 3,047 acres (15% contained) under CIMT (CA Team 3), displaying moderate fire behavior with flanking, uphill runs, and single tree torching. The Timber fire in the Los Padres National Forest southeast of Big Sur stands at 25,435 acres (59% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and backing, and numerous structures and critical infrastructure are 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.
-
Sacramento — Sunny, High 81, Low 56
-
Fresno — Partly Cloudy, High 84, Low 61
-
Los Angeles — Mostly Cloudy, High 77, Low 62
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 are in effect.
In southern and central Idaho within the Great Basin Area (Preparedness Level 2), no uncontained large fires are currently reported.
-
Boise — Sunny, High 85, Low 59
-
Pocatello — Sunny, High 74, Low 42
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 4 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Davis Coulee fire southwest of Crow Agency stands at 15,470 acres (50% contained) with minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. 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 by the Sand Creek fire.
Additional active fires across Montana include Nature Grove (1,422 acres; 0% contained).
-
Missoula — Sunny, High 79, Low 47
-
Helena — Sunny, High 76, Low 44
-
Great Falls — Sunny, High 79, Low 48
Nevada
The Great Basin Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2, reporting no active uncontained large fires currently burning across Nevada.
-
Reno — Partly Cloudy, High 83, Low 52
-
Las Vegas — Mostly Cloudy, High 93, Low 71
Utah
The Great Basin Area coordinates fire operations across Utah, reporting no uncontained large fires currently active.
- Salt Lake City — Partly Cloudy, High 79, Low 58
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 creeping and smoldering.
-
Casper — Sunny, High 69, Low 42
-
Cheyenne — Sunny, High 69, Low 47
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 are in effect. The Elk fire in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests spans 7,257 acres (73% contained).
-
Grand Junction — Sunny, High 79, Low 54
-
Pueblo — Mostly Cloudy, High 74, Low 54
-
Denver — Partly Cloudy, High 75, Low 53
Arizona
The Southwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, reporting no uncontained large fires active across Arizona.
-
Flagstaff — Mostly Cloudy, High 73, Low 46
-
Phoenix — Very Hot, High 101, Low 78
-
Tucson — Very Hot, High 97, Low 71
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 (52% contained) with minimal fire behavior with smoldering. Area, road, and trail closures are in effect.
-
Santa Fe — Partly Cloudy, High 78, Low 55
-
Albuquerque — Partly Cloudy, High 81, Low 58
Texas
The Southern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, tracking active incidents across Texas.
The Dry River fire southeast of Sonora stands at 8,939 acres (90% contained) in grass, exhibiting minimal fire behavior with smoldering. This is the last report unless significant activity occurs. The Hydra fire south of Meridian spans 933 acres (52% contained) in brush and grass, displaying minimal fire behavior with smoldering. The Mud Bayou fire east of High Island covers 10,550 acres (80% contained) with active fire behavior.
-
Dallas-Fort Worth — Thunderstorms, High 97, Low 75
-
Austin — Thunderstorms, High 98, Low 75
-
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 (75% contained) in timber. It exhibits active fire behavior with smoldering and creeping, and 31 structures are reported lost.
-
Oklahoma City — Mostly Cloudy, High 87, Low 65
-
Tulsa — Mostly Cloudy, High 84, Low 65
Arkansas
The Southern Area coordinates large incident response in Arkansas.
The Bunker fire covers 2,849 acres (75% contained).
-
Little Rock — Showers, High 95, Low 71
-
Fort Smith — Thunderstorms, High 92, Low 70
Missouri
The Eastern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 1 uncontained large fire across the region.
The Tabor fire southwest of Pomona covers 130 acres (4% contained) with moderate fire behavior with flanking, creeping, and smoldering.
- St. Louis — Cloudy, High 75, Low 62
Florida
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Florida.
-
Orlando — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 73
-
Tampa — Showers, High 89, Low 75
-
Miami Beach — Thunderstorms, High 86, Low 76
Georgia
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Georgia.
-
Atlanta — Sunny, High 92, Low 72
-
Savannah — Thunderstorms, High 90, Low 71
South Dakota
The Rocky Mountain Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across South Dakota.
- Rapid City — Showers, High 62, Low 45
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.
-
Duluth — Mostly Cloudy, High 58, Low 39
-
Minneapolis-St. Paul — Cloudy, High 57, Low 46
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.
-
Anchorage — Showers, High 53, Low 40
-
Fairbanks — Rain, High 46, Low 34
-
Juneau — Showers, High 53, Low 39
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Mon Sept 21, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service