National Fire News

July 8, 2026

Since yesterday, 167 new fires were reported nationwide. Currently, firefighters are working to suppress and contain 37 large fires across the country. Extreme fire behavior and evacuations are reported in multiple geographic areas. The Babylon Fire, 25 miles southwest of Monticello, Utah, is newly the largest fire in the country, reporting 100,479 acres as of this morning. 

So far this year, 37,783 fires have burned more than 3.4 million acres across the United States, 130% of the ten-year average number of fires and 146% of the ten-year average number of acres burned. 

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. 

Even beyond the areas where these formal advisories are in place, many parts of the country are experiencing red flag warnings due to heat, dry conditions, lightning, and/or wind. Fires that start in such conditions can grow quickly. Lightning ignitions often occur far from road systems and thus pose extra challenges for initial attack, so these natural starts have elevated potential to become large fires. That said, however, an average of 85% of fires are started not by lightning, but by people – which means we have a significant opportunity to help. 

Common human causes of fires include losing control of debris burning, unattended or unextinguished campfires, and sparks or heat transfer from vehicles and equipment like chainsaws or recreational vehicles. Become a part of the solution by going to extra mile to be fire safe on your public lands. Recreate Responsibly: Wildfire Edition