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 60 new fires reported nationwide yesterday.
Firefighters are currently working to manage 34 uncontained large fires, with 0 new large incidents emerging, 0 large fires contained, and 10,886 total personnel assigned to incidents nationwide.
Nationally, 8 Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) are committed.
So far in 2026, firefighters have responded to 56,525 wildfires that have burned 8,541,715 acres across the United States.
Hot temperatures, very dry fuels, and relative humidity dropping to 20–30% persist across the Lower Mississippi Valley today.
The eastward progression of an upper trough and slight weakening of the ridge over the Southeast will allow wet thunderstorms to develop this afternoon over central Oklahoma, bringing relief to relative humidity alongside gusty winds, while eastern Oklahoma, Texas, and the Lower Mississippi Valley remain dry.
Wet thunderstorms will develop again today over eastern Montana, Wyoming, and the High Plains, with many areas likely to receive near one inch of rain.
Light winds persist across the Pacific Northwest, though warming and drying will drop relative humidity to 15–25% across the Columbia Basin this afternoon.
Relative humidity will lower to 7–18% across Nevada, the Mojave Desert, and the Central Valley with wind gusts remaining under 25 mph, while gusts of 25 to 30 mph are likely across the Front Range and eastern Sierra.
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 backing, creeping, and smoldering under CIMT Northwest Team 13; the team is also managing the Sisi fire, which covers 3,731 acres (15% contained) with active backing, flanking, and isolated torching while threatening residences and energy infrastructure. The Sinlahekin fire near Tonasket spans 166,005 acres (92% contained) with minimal creeping and smoldering following an acreage reduction due to more accurate mapping, 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 creeping and smoldering under CIMT Northwest Team 2, which is also managing the King fire (3,314 acres; 0% contained) and the Goat fire (815 acres; 70% contained). All three fires exhibit creeping and smoldering, with closures in effect and numerous residences and critical infrastructure threatened near Three Queens. Additional active incidents across Washington include Ptarmigan (25,166 acres; 73% contained) and Border 2 (8,707 acres; 74% contained), with Border 2 displaying moderate backing, flanking, and creeping while threatening structures in North Cascades National Park.
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Spokane — Sunny, High 81, Low 50
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Seattle — Partly Cloudy, High 72, Low 53
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Yakima — Sunny, High 83, 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 smoldering under CIMT ODF Team 1. The Grasshopper fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest spans 93,966 acres (98% contained) with minimal smoldering and creeping following an acreage reduction due to more accurate mapping. The Austin fire has burned 12,882 acres (98% contained) with minimal creeping and smoldering under CIMT California Team 2; the team is also managing The Narrows fire (305 acres; 98% contained) and Grasshopper, with Austin also reflecting an acreage reduction due to more accurate mapping.
The Hagen fire east of Pendleton covers 61,382 acres (89% contained) under CIMT Northwest Team 7, exhibiting minimal creeping and smoldering with area, road, and trail closures in place. The Paradise fire in the Umatilla National Forest spans 9,656 acres (86% contained) with minimal smoldering, with critical infrastructure remaining threatened.
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Pendleton — Sunny, High 82, Low 51
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Medford — Sunny, High 91, Low 54
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Portland — Partly Cloudy, High 81, Low 56
California
Both Northern California and Southern California are operating at Preparedness Level 3.
In Northern California, the Floriston fire northeast of Truckee covers 622 acres (45% contained) with minimal smoldering; energy infrastructure remains threatened, with area and road closures in effect. The Lucas fire north of Upper Lake covers 4,128 acres (95% contained) with minimal smoldering, and area, road, and trail closures persist.
In Southern California, three CIMTs remain committed. The Dome fire in Yosemite National Park spans 2,384 acres (15% contained) under CIMT California 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 backing, creeping, and smoldering, with a scheduled transfer of command today from CIMT Southwest Team 1 to CIMT California Team 6; numerous structures and communication infrastructure remain threatened. The Plaskett fire southwest of Big Sur spans 29,993 acres (97% contained) under CIMT California Team 6, exhibiting minimal creeping and backing.
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Sacramento — Partly Cloudy, High 82, Low 57
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Fresno — Mostly Cloudy, High 90, Low 63
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Los Angeles — Mostly Cloudy, High 79, Low 66
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 smoldering with road and trail closures 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 — Sunny, High 80, Low 56
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Pocatello — Partly Cloudy, High 70, Low 36
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 5 uncontained large fires across the region.
The Davis Coulee fire southwest of Crow Agency stands at 15,470 acres (50% contained) with minimal creeping and smoldering following precipitation over the fire area yesterday. The Sand Creek fire east of Wisdom spans 35,520 acres (58% contained) with minimal backing, creeping, and smoldering after receiving rain yesterday, with structures and communication infrastructure remaining threatened.
Additional active fires across Montana include Moose (6,005 acres; 15% contained) and Nature Grove (1,422 acres; 0% contained).
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Missoula — Sunny, High 76, Low 46
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Helena — Partly Cloudy, High 72, Low 44
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Great Falls — Sunny, High 73, Low 46
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 — Mostly Cloudy, High 82, Low 55
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Las Vegas — Partly Cloudy, High 95, Low 76
Utah
The Great Basin Area coordinates fire operations across Utah, reporting no uncontained large fires currently active.
- Salt Lake City — Sunny, High 73, Low 50
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 creeping and smoldering while residences remain threatened.
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Casper — Showers, High 62, Low 38
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Cheyenne — Showers, High 66, Low 41
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 smoldering; energy infrastructure remains threatened, and road and trail closures persist. The Elk fire in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests spans 7,257 acres (73% contained).
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Grand Junction — Sunny, High 76, Low 51
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Pueblo — Sunny, High 82, Low 55
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Denver — Thunderstorms, High 72, Low 49
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 74, Low 43
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Phoenix — Very Hot, High 102, Low 80
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Tucson — Thunderstorms, High 95, 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 (52% contained) with minimal smoldering, with area, road, and trail closures in effect.
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Santa Fe — Sunny, High 77, Low 49
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Albuquerque — Sunny, High 79, Low 54
Texas
The Southern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, tracking active incidents across Texas.
The Star Lake fire on the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge southeast of Stowell covers 16,412 acres (98% contained) with minimal smoldering, submitting its last report unless significant activity occurs. The Dry River fire southeast of Sonora stands at 8,939 acres (85% contained) in grass, exhibiting minimal fire behavior with smoldering while energy infrastructure remains threatened. The Hydra fire south of Meridian spans 933 acres (35% contained) in brush and grass, displaying minimal fire behavior with single tree torching and smoldering.
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Dallas-Fort Worth — Partly Cloudy, High 96, Low 74
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Austin — Partly Cloudy, High 99, Low 76
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Waco — Partly Cloudy, High 97, Low 76
Oklahoma
The Southern Area coordinates suppression across active Oklahoma fires.
The Gracemont fire on the Anadarko Agency east of Binger covers 2,665 acres (60% contained) with active fire behavior including isolated torching, running, and creeping, with 31 structures reported destroyed to date. The Calvary Creek fire east of Rocky covers 906 acres (95% contained) in grass and timber with minimal fire behavior, noting a reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping and submitting its last report unless significant activity occurs.
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Oklahoma City — Thunderstorms, High 95, Low 67
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Tulsa — Thunderstorms, High 92, Low 68
Arkansas
The Southern Area coordinates large incident response in Arkansas.
The Bunker fire east of East Camden covers 2,849 acres (75% contained) in southern rough and timber, issuing its last narrative report unless new information is received.
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Little Rock — Partly Cloudy, High 98, Low 74
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Fort Smith — Mostly Cloudy, High 99, Low 73
Florida
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Florida.
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Orlando — Thunderstorms, High 90, Low 73
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Tampa — Showers, High 89, Low 75
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Miami Beach — Thunderstorms, High 89, Low 76
Georgia
The Southern Area reports no uncontained large fires currently active across Georgia.
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Atlanta — Partly Cloudy, High 90, Low 72
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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 — Thunderstorms, High 59, Low 45
Minnesota
The Eastern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating zero active large incidents across the region.
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Duluth — Partly Cloudy, High 58, Low 41
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Minneapolis-St. Paul — Mostly Cloudy, High 65, Low 52
Alaska
The Alaska Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating zero uncontained large fires, with cumulative acres standing at 7,339 and zero personnel assigned.
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Anchorage — Rain, High 56, Low 44
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Fairbanks — Showers, High 53, Low 39
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Juneau — Showers, High 53, Low 40
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Sun Sept 20, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service