Crews secure regional firelines while gusty winds threaten the northern Plains

The United States remains at National Preparedness Level 1 with light initial attack activity as regional resources manage active incidents locally. Wildfire starts and total area burned across the country continue to track well above the ten-year historical average for this point in the season. Firefighters are holding containment lines across the West and Upper Midwest while recent activity in Southern California winds down.

Significant Fires

• Sisi Fire (Washington) — Burning northwest of Stehekin in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, the fire continues to creep and smolder while threatening nearby homes and keeping area closures in place. Overcast skies, cooling temperatures, and easing winds over the coming days are expected to moderate fire behavior.
• Ridge Fire (Michigan) — Located north of Negaunee in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the fire continues to threaten local structures and maintain trail closures. Cool, foggy conditions will give way to increasing wind gusts and rain chances heading into the weekend.
• Cooley Fire (California) — Burning south of Yorkville in Mendocino County, the fire has transitioned to local unit management with crews scaling back after stopping forward progress without structure damage. The cause remains under investigation following reports of an escaped prescribed burn.
• Black River Fire (Michigan) — Crews south of Wakefield in the western Upper Peninsula are scaling back active operations to focus on hot-spot patrol. Personnel are concentrating on mitigating root-damaged hazard trees along existing lines.
• Norte Fire (California) — The fire is contained after destroying several homes in San Juan Capistrano, and all evacuation orders have been lifted. Local officials have placed sandbags to mitigate flash flooding and debris flows from burn scars ahead of approaching rains.
• Bras Fire (Montana) — The fire is contained on the Flathead Reservation east of Hot Springs in Sanders County. Bureau of Indian Affairs personnel remain on site to patrol and monitor containment lines.

Conditions and Outlook

Red Flag Warnings take effect Friday across northern Wyoming, southeastern Montana, and western South Dakota due to unseasonably warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong wind gusts ahead of an incoming cold front. Dry fuels and brisk winds will also elevate grassland fire danger across South Dakota during ongoing harvest operations. In Northern California, fire potential will rise to moderate levels across coastal ranges and interior foothills through the weekend.

Burn Bans and Land Management

All backcountry trails east of Highway 1 in Los Padres National Forest remain closed indefinitely for post-fire repairs, while localized trail and area closures remain enforced around active fires in Washington and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

What Residents Should Do

• Heed Red Flag Warnings across Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas by postponing outdoor burning and securing equipment that could spark dry grasses.
• Residents downslope from burn scars in Southern California should clear storm drains and place sandbags ahead of forecast rainfall.
• Respect all posted trail and backcountry forest closures near active fire operations.