National Fire News

National Preparedness Level 2

as of March 20, 2026 at 7:30 a.m. MDT (on a scale from 1 to 5)

Current hours for the National Fire Information Center are
(MST) 8:00 am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday
208-387-5050

This report is currently updated on Fridays.
Please check the IMSR for more information.

April 17, 2026

Fire activity remains light across the country, with 144 new fires reported and three new large incidents. Currently, 23 large fires are uncontained, with 992 personnel assigned nationwide. All incidents are being managed under a full suppression strategy, with most activity concentrated in the Southern Area.

A new Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory has been issued for the Southeastern Area where persistent dry weather and rapidly intensifying drought are resulting in historically dry fuels from the southern Appalachians and adjacent areas into the coastal Southeast. 

Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories also remain in place for the Central and Southern Great Plains, as well as the Northern and Central Great Plains. 

The 2026 National Fire Year Themes highlight safety for firefighters, support personnel, and the public. They emphasize working together across agencies, using new technology, understanding how homes and wildfires are connected, reducing smoke impacts, and making responsible choices when enjoying public lands.   

Wildland fire careers combine service, teamwork and meaningful work protecting communities and public lands. Seasonal firefighter, fire support and leadership positions are now listed on USAJOBS. Search “firefighter” or “wildland fire” to see current opportunities.

Daily statistics
Number of new large fires or emergency response


* New fires are identified with an asterisk
3 States currently reporting large fires:
Total number of large fires 17
Acres from all active large fires 29,866
Fires contained 1
Year-to-date statistics
2026 (1/1/26-4/17/26) Fires: 20,915 Acres: 1,748,490
2025 (1/1/25-4/17/25) Fires: 19,512 Acres: 881,249
2024 (1/1/24-4/17/24) Fires: 10,124 Acres: 1,767,006
2023 (1/1/23-4/17/23) Fires: 11,224 Acres: 289,673
2022 (1/1/22-4/17/22) Fires: 19,226 Acres: 820,587
2021 (1/1/21-4/17/21) Fires: 14,989 Acres: 429,814
2020 (1/1/20-4/17/20) Fires: 9,864 Acres: 207,687
2019 (1/1/19-4/17/19) Fires: 8,302 Acres: 207,058
2018 (1/1/18-4/17/18) Fires: 14,895 Acres: 679,534
2017 (1/1/17-4/17/17) Fires: 16,900 Acres: 2,200,464
2016 (1/1/16-4/17/16) Fires: 12,614 Acres: 1,384,050
10-year average Year-to-Date
2016-2025 Fires: 13,597 Acres: 875,957
Current Wildfires
Fires: 2
Acres: 2,507
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Ciba Road Alabama Forestry Commission ST 807 65 Thirty-one miles east of McIntosh, AL
Rafey Alabama Forestry Commission ST 1,700 40 Thirty-three miles north of Citronelle, AL
Fires: 1
Acres: 1,600
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* Tumey Fresno-Kings Unit ST 1,600 98 Sixteen miles southwest of Mendota, CA
Fires: 8
Acres: 13,206
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
139 National Forests in Florida USFS 6,055 50 One mile north of Wilma, FL
* Crews Rd 10 Florida Forest Service ST 1,700 0 Twenty-three miles northeast of Green Cove Springs, FL
Mill Pond National Forests in Florida USFS 1,754 70 Three miles south of Telogia, FL
N Main St 2 Florida Forest Service ST 106 25 Thirty-six miles north of Ocala, FL
Railroad Complex Florida Forest Service ST 700 0 Ten miles northeast of Palatka, FL
SR 26 Florida Forest Service ST 302 60 Six miles east of Gainesville, FL
Sand Beach Florida Forest Service ST 100 50 Two miles east of Creel, FL
Sargent National Forests in Florida USFS 2,489 81 One mile south of Sargent, FL
Fires: 2
Acres: 9,055
New: 0
Contained: 1
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
McGarrh Georgia Forestry Commission ST 144 80 Three miles west of Summertown, GA
Pineland Rd Georgia Forestry Commission ST 8,911 10 Thirteen miles northwest of Fargo, GA
Jericho Rd Georgia Forestry Commission ST 158 100 Nine miles west of Newton, GA
Fires: 1
Acres: 1,100
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
STE Alum Daniel Boone National Forest USFS 1,100 72 Three miles west of Whitley City, KY
Fires: 1
Acres: 1,000
New: 1
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
* East Side Custer Gallatin National Forest USFS 1,000 0 Five miles south of Red Lodge, MT
Fires: 1
Acres: 748
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Rosindale Road North Carolina Forest Service ST 748 75 Eight miles north of Lake Waccamaw, NC
Fires: 1
Acres: 650
New: 0
Contained: 0
Fire Unit Agency Size % Ctn Location Information
Appalachia Cherokee National Forest USFS 650 60 Eight miles north of Ducktown, TN