Wildfire activity is gradually escalating across multiple geographic areas. Yesterday, 86 new fires were reported nationwide, including six new large fires. Currently, 37 large fires are uncontained, with more than 6,700 personnel assigned to incidents across the country, including four complex incident management teams.
So far this year, 35,118 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres nationwide, exceeding the 10-year averages for both fires and acres burned to date. The largest fire currently in the nation is the Cottonwood Fire near Beaver, Utah, at 61,137 acres upon this morning’s report. The assigned complex incident management team reports extreme fire behavior, and evacuations are in effect.
If you know that you live in a fire-prone area, there are steps you can take to prepare for the scary situation of a threat to your community. Work with your neighbors to keep streets and roads clear, so fire engines can easily maneuver, and residents can evacuate swiftly if needed. Make sure fire hydrants are visible and accessible. Clear flammable vegetation around structures, on large lots, and along roadsides. Have an evacuation plan with your household, including what essential items you will take with you and where you will meet. Preparedness for fire emergencies is good citizenship and can also give you some peace of mind. Find evacuation-readiness tips at Ready.gov.
Weather
Thunderstorms will develop across much of the Intermountain West today as monsoonal moisture aloft quickly surges into the region. This activity will initially be on the drier side, but some wetting rainfall is possible where several rounds occur. New lightning ignitions will be most likely across southern portions of the Great Basin and West Slope, extending into Arizona and northwestern New Mexico, where faster storm motions and parched fuels will align. Erratic outflow winds will likely challenge many of the established wildfires through the afternoon and evening hours, and severe wind gusts over 60 mph will be possible locally. Quick-moving but more isolated thunderstorms will also affect the Northwest into Idaho and western Montana. Hot, dry and unstable conditions will otherwise be the rule throughout the Intermountain West ahead of the more unsettled conditions. Dry air will overspread the Southeast behind a front that will focus widely scattered thunderstorms across the Florida peninsula. Showers and thunderstorms will spread a bit farther north and west in the Alaska Interior, with the warmest temperautres over western Alaska to the North Slope as areas farther south remain milder.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
