US Wildfire Daily Summary Report
Date: July 15, 2026

National Overview

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) continues to hold the National Preparedness Level at 4 (PL 4) on a 5-point scale. A PL 4 designation indicates a high level of wildland fire activity nationwide, requiring a substantial commitment of incident management teams and shared resources across multiple geographic areas.

The 2026 fire season has seen an early and aggressive start, largely driven by a warm, dry winter with record-low snowpack across much of the West, followed by extreme early-summer heat. So far this year, 39,354 fires have burned more than 3.6 million acres across the United States. This marks a significant increase in burned acreage compared to the 10-year average for this point in the season. Large fires are currently burning in all 10 Geographic Areas, underscoring the broad scope of this year's wildfire activity.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, firefighters have been battling 46 uncontained large fires. The most impactful and noteworthy incidents include:

1. Cottonwood Fire (Utah): Burning in the Tushar Mountains, this is one of the largest and most destructive active fires in the country. It has scorched over 94,000 acres (approximately 150 square miles) and destroyed up to 150 structures, including significant damage to local resort properties.
2. Babylon Fire (Utah): Another massive blaze located in eastern Utah's Manti-La Sal National Forest. It has burned tens of thousands of acres in rugged terrain and forced closures in the Bears Ears National Monument area.
3. Snyder Fire (Colorado): Burning near the Utah border, this fire has consumed over 30,000 acres. Tragically, it was the site of a burnover incident earlier this month that claimed the lives of three federal wildland firefighters.
4. Gold Mountain Fire (Colorado): Located near Telluride, this fire has been exhibiting extreme fire behavior. On July 12, the wildland fire community suffered a tragic loss when a contract helicopter pilot was fatally injured in an aircraft accident while supporting suppression efforts.
5. Aspen Acres Fire (Colorado): Fueled by high winds and parched vegetation, this fire rapidly exploded to over 20,000 acres, prompting thousands of households in south-central Colorado to evacuate.
6. Northern Minnesota Wildfires: Several large, fast-spreading wildfires in northern Minnesota have prompted recent evacuation orders for local residents. Combined with Canadian wildfires, these blazes are producing massive smoke plumes affecting a large portion of the country.

Firefighting Efforts

The national demand for firefighting resources remains exceptionally high. Currently, nearly 17,000 personnel are assigned to wildfire incidents nationwide. Yesterday alone, 109 new fires were reported, including five new large fires.

To help strengthen the national aerial firefighting fleet, military support has been activated. Two MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing remain deployed to California to assist with suppression operations. The firefighting community continues to mourn the recent losses of the helicopter pilot in Colorado and the three federal firefighters, highlighting the extreme dangers crews are facing on the front lines this season.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Fire weather remains a critical challenge across the country.

• Elevated Fire Weather: Breezy winds combined with low relative humidity (10-20%) are expected over southern Montana and Wyoming east of the Continental Divide, creating highly elevated fire weather conditions.
• Extreme Heat: Well above-normal temperatures are building across the Great Plains into the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region, with afternoon highs of 95–105°F likely.
• Thunderstorms and Lightning: A monsoonal moisture surge is pushing northward across the Southwest into the northern Great Basin, eastern Oregon, northern California, and western Colorado. While this brings scattered wet thunderstorms that could offer wetting rain, it also brings dry lightning strikes that threaten to ignite new fires in critically dry fuels.
• Hazardous Air Quality: Heavy smoke from the fires in Minnesota and Canada is currently engulfing large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast. Air quality alerts are in effect across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, and parts of New England. In some areas, particulate pollution is expected to reach hazardous levels.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

• Stay Alert: If you live in or are traveling through fire-prone areas, stay acutely aware of current conditions. Fire behavior can change rapidly due to shifting winds and dry fuels.
• Heed Evacuations: Follow local evacuation orders immediately. Do not wait to see if conditions improve. Monitor local emergency alerts and sign up for county text notifications.
• Recreation Safety: Check with local land management agencies for fire restrictions and public land closures before heading outdoors. Many areas have strict fire bans in place.
• Air Quality Precautions: For residents in the Midwest and Northeast experiencing heavy wildfire smoke, monitor your local Air Quality Index (AQI). Keep windows closed, run air purifiers if available, and limit outdoor physical activity. Sensitive groups—including children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions—should remain indoors until the smoke clears.