Wildland firefighters and support personnel have made steady progress toward containment goals in recent days. Cooler weather and scattered rain across the Northwest, Northern Rockies, and Great Basin helped moderate fire behavior. Across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, containment is growing on several large incidents, reflecting the tireless work of wildland fire personnel who continue to strengthen firelines and secure perimeters.
Today, 17,174 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents across the country. Year-to-date, 49,462 wildfires have burned 4,377,661 acres. That is close to the 10-year average for the number of wildfires (43,994) but below the 10-year average for acres burned (6,206,218).
With hunting season underway in many states, prevention is key. Hunters can help by double-checking that campfires are cold to the touch, keeping vehicles on clear ground, and securing gear to avoid sparks. A few extra minutes of care in the field can prevent new fires from igniting.
This week also marks the start of Thinking of You Week (Sept. 15–21). It is a fitting time to thank the 17,000-plus firefighters and support personnel who continue to protect lives, communities, and natural resources. The 2025 National Fire Year Themes remind us that it takes all of us, working together, staying safe, and making choices that support their efforts on the ground and in the air.
Weather
A high-pressure ridge quickly amplifies along the West Coast. Light to moderate northeast to east winds 10-15 mph developing from western Washington and Oregon to Northern California, increasing Monday night with 25-35 mph along the ridges. Temperatures will warm 5-10 degrees today across the Northwest and California, with RH dropping to 15-25%. Overnight recovery will be poor to moderate with RH 25-35% in the drier locations, especially along and west of the Cascades into California and the Great Basin. Fire behavior will pick up on existing fires with an increase in initial attack possible from recent lightning. Low pressure will weaken as it tracks east across the northern Great Basin and northern Rockies. Cooler temperatures, higher RH and scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur across the northern Rockies, northern Great Basin and northern Colorado into the Plains. Strong high pressure from the Great Lakes to the lower Mississippi Valley with continued well above normal temperatures and RH of 25-35% across much of the East, except for isolated thunderstorms with small rainfall footprints from the southern Plains to the Tennessee Valley. Low pressure in the Coastal Mid-Atlantic will generate scattered showers and cooler temperatures. Isolated showers and thunderstorms continue in Florida.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
