Wildfire Report
Daily Tech Reader - Wildfire Edition
National Overview
Wildfire Report — National Overview
The United States is currently at National Preparedness Level 3.
Initial attack activity nationwide was light yesterday, with 96 new fires reported.
Firefighters are managing 58 uncontained large fires, with 4 new large incidents emerging, 2 large fires contained, and 12,071 total personnel assigned to incidents across the country.
Nationally, 11 Complex Incident Management Teams (CIMTs) are committed.
Year-to-date in 2026, a total of 55,419 wildfires have burned 8,478,047 acres nationwide.
Hot temperatures continue across the southern Plains with highs near 100°F alongside locally breezy southerly winds of 12–20 mph and higher gusts, accompanied by minimum relative humidity levels of 20–30%.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the Southwest and along a cold front extending from southern Colorado east-northeastward into the Great Lakes.
Behind the front, winds are projected to be lighter across the Great Basin and Wyoming, though minimum relative humidity will remain low at 8–20%.
Low relative humidity and light winds will also prevail across much of California.
An upper-level low dropping into Washington will bring isolated light showers, with temperatures staying below normal across the Northwest and into the northern Rockies.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms will persist across Florida, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and southeast Texas.
Washington
The Northwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3.
The Little Giant fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest covers 172,695 acres (81% contained) with minimal fire behavior, including creeping and smoldering. CIMT Northwest Team 12 is managing the incident alongside the Sisi fire, which stands at 3,193 acres (5% contained) with minimal backing, creeping, and smoldering. The Sinlahekin fire covers 166,000 acres (77% contained) with smoldering and creeping.
The Three Queens fire east of Snoqualmie Pass covers 9,527 acres (20% contained) under CIMT Northwest Team 2, which also oversees the King fire (3,278 acres; 0% contained) and the Goat fire (816 acres; 22% contained). Additional active incidents across Washington include Ptarmigan (25,166 acres; 73% contained), Border 2 (8,171 acres; 73% contained), Luna (7,879 acres; 34% contained), High Lava (2,899 acres; 63% contained), Electric (495 acres; 71% contained), and the Wonderland Complex (392 acres; 10% contained).
Oregon
Oregon continues large-scale wildfire suppression under Northwest Area coordination.
The Rowe Creek Complex 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 93,982 acres (97% contained) with minimal creeping and smoldering. The Austin fire has burned 12,887 acres (67% contained) under CIMT Northwest Team 10, which also manages The Narrows fire (304 acres; 89% contained).
The Hagen fire covers 61,381 acres (87% contained), with CIMT Northwest Team 7 mobilizing. The Paradise fire in the Umatilla National Forest stands at 9,656 acres (86% contained), with command transitioning from CIMT Northwest Team 8 back to the local unit. The McCully fire spans 13,604 acres (87% contained) with command transferring from CIMT California Team 1 back to the local unit. The Sycan fire stands at 2,185 acres (90% contained) with minimal fire behavior.
California
Both Northern California and Southern California are operating at Preparedness Level 3.
In Northern California, the Lucas fire north of Upper Lake covers 4,128 acres (33% contained) with moderate fire behavior including isolated torching, creeping, and smoldering. The MP18 fire north of Hoopa covers 7,599 acres (98% contained) with minimal smoldering.
In Southern California, the Plaskett fire southwest of Big Sur has burned 29,976 acres (89% contained) under CIMT California Team 7, with CIMT California Team 6 mobilizing. The Timber fire southeast of Big Sur stands at 25,426 acres (39% contained) with minimal creeping and smoldering under CIMT Southwest Team 1.
Idaho
Idaho coordinates active suppression operations across both the Great Basin and Northern Rockies geographic areas.
In the Great Basin Area, the Crooked fire east of Idaho City covers 10,081 acres (93% contained) with minimal smoldering and creeping. The Doublesprings fire northwest of Mackay stands at 1,779 acres (60% contained) with minimal creeping.
In the Northern Rockies Area, the Cascade fire spans 7,475 acres (50% contained) with smoldering and creeping. The Moose Mountain fire covers 5,832 acres (85% contained) with minimal smoldering. The Upper Smith fire is at 4,848 acres (41% contained), the Silver fire covers 2,593 acres (30% contained), and the Parker Lake fire stands at 1,531 acres (0% contained).
Montana
The Northern Rockies Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2.
A new large incident, the Davis Coulee fire southwest of Crow Agency, has burned 2,000 acres (0% contained) with extreme wind-driven runs and evacuations in effect. The Sand Creek fire east of Wisdom spans 35,520 acres (58% contained) with backing, creeping, and smoldering. The Bobcat Lakes fire covers 10,896 acres (72% contained) with minimal backing and creeping.
Other active fires across Montana include Camp Creek (9,725 acres; 0% contained), Silvertip (7,280 acres; 15% contained), Moose (6,005 acres; 15% contained), Nature Grove (1,422 acres; 0% contained), Beaver Creek (456 acres; 100% contained), Scimitar (334 acres; 0% contained), and Cooper (176 acres; 0% contained).
Utah
The Great Basin Area is managing active large incident activity in Utah.
The Slough Canyon fire east of Price covers 4,774 acres (70% contained) with minimal smoldering and creeping.
Wyoming
Wyoming manages incident activity under the Rocky Mountain Area.
The Moonshine fire southwest of Wheatland stands at 7,170 acres (47% contained) with moderate fire behavior including backing, creeping, and smoldering. Evacuations remain in effect, and recent precipitation has aided suppression efforts.
Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2.
The Aspen Acres fire in Custer County spans 102,004 acres (82% contained). The Willow fire west of Leadville stands at 7,389 acres (80% contained) with minimal fire activity. The Elk fire covers 7,257 acres (73% contained). The Swiss Roll fire east of Pagosa Springs covers 775 acres (0% contained) with moderate smoldering and creeping.
New Mexico
The Southwest Area is operating at Preparedness Level 2.
The Frijoles fire east of Cundiyo spans 15,956 acres (74% contained) with minimal backing, flanking, and creeping. The Whiskey fire northwest of Mountainair stands at 542 acres (48% contained) with moderate creeping, backing, and smoldering. The Monument fire south of Tinnie covers 350 acres (0% contained).
Texas
The Southern Area is at Preparedness Level 3.
The new Arrowhead fire southeast of Wichita Falls has burned 700 acres (0% contained) with active running, spotting, and torching. The Ross fire west of Palo Pinto covers 90,400 acres (88% contained) under CIMT Florida State Team 1 with moderate creeping, smoldering, and single-tree torching. The Star Lake fire southeast of Stowell covers 13,770 acres (50% contained) with moderate backing behavior. The Benson fire is 1,395 acres (100% contained).
Oklahoma
The Southern Area is actively managing multiple significant fires across Oklahoma.
Two new large incidents emerged: the Tram Trail fire northeast of Rattan at 800 acres (0% contained) displaying extreme fire behavior with wind-driven runs, and the Black Kettle fire southeast of Roll at 1,174 acres (10% contained) displaying active running and flanking. The Gracemont fire east of Binger covers 2,308 acres (0% contained) with extreme fire behavior including wind-driven runs, short-range spotting, crowning, and active evacuations. The Meers fire northwest of Meers stands at 914 acres (75% contained), and the West Glover fire covers 499 acres (85% contained).
Alabama
The Southern Area continues to track suppression activity in Alabama.
The Ray Coaker fire covers 707 acres (80% contained) with no new growth reported.
Alaska
The Alaska Area is operating at Preparedness Level 1, coordinating 1 active incident encompassing 7,339 cumulative acres with 20 assigned personnel.
Sources: NICC Incident Management Situation Report (Tue Sept 15, 2026), NIFC Fire Information, National Weather Service