Since yesterday, 165 new fires were reported nationwide. Currently, firefighters are working to suppress and contain 38 large fires across the country. Extreme fire behavior and evacuations are reported in multiple geographic areas. Three new large fires were reported in the Northwest Geographic Area, where more start detections are predicted following a prolonged period of mostly dry lightning.
So far this year, 37,949 fires have burned more than 3.4 million acres across the United States.
There are two active fuels and fire behavior advisories, covering the West Slope, Front Range, and southeast of Colorado, Southern Wyoming, Eastern Nevada, Utah, and the Arizona Strip. Those living in or traveling to these areas, including firefighters and support personnel, should be aware of the critically dry fuels conditions and potential for rapidly changing fire conditions.
So far this year, 10 drone incursions have been reported near wildfires. 4 of those incidents occurred in California. Drones in the sky present a critical danger to aircraft with people inside; even a very small drone has the potential to damage the tail rotor on a helicopter or incapacitate an engine and cause a fatal accident. Thus, when an unknown drone is spotted near a wildfire, aerial operations are grounded until the skies are clear. That pause may only last a few minutes, but in wildfire response, every minute matters. Protect firefighter safety (and avoid a potential costly fine): Know before you fly, and if you're anywhere near wildfire activity, do not fly at all.
Weather
Isolated to mixed wet and dry thunderstorms capable of new ignitions will develop in northeast Utah into the West Slope and western Wyoming. Isolated, mainly wet, thunderstorms will develop in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. Breezy west winds 12-22 mph with gusts 25-35 mph amid relative humidity of 5-12% will develop in the southern Great Basin to northwest Arizona creating elevated to locally critical conditions. Locally elevated winds gusting near 30 mph will also develop through the Cascade gaps, Sierra Front, and through the Snake River Plain creating areas of elevated conditions. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop in the Lower to Mid-Mississippi Valley into the Lower Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, but drier conditions will begin to develop along the southeast Atlantic coast. Dry conditions will continue in northeast Minnesota with minimum relative humidity falling to near 30%. Above normal temperatures will continue in eastern Interior Alaska with isolated thunderstorms, while cooler conditions move into the western half of the state.
Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk
Approximately three miles west of Darwin Ranch, near upper Gros Ventre Falls in the Gros Ventre Wilderness on the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (34 Miles NW of Cora, WY)
