National Fire Activity Moderates as Northwest and Coastal California Incidents Persist

The National Preparedness Level dropped to Level 4 as shared resource availability improved and national ordering slowed, though season-to-date activity remains well above the ten-year average. Tens of thousands of wildland firefighters, alongside international crews and military personnel, remain engaged on dozens of uncontained large wildfires. The Pacific Northwest and Northern California continue to see the heaviest suppression commitments.

Significant Fires

• Timber Fire (California) — Burning along the Big Sur coast in Monterey County, this fire continues to threaten hundreds of structures and maintains mandatory evacuation orders for coastal communities. Firefighters are prioritizing structure defense and holding perimeter lines along Highway 1.
• Little Giant Fire (Washington) — Active across the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan and Okanogan counties, the blaze threatens nearby communities. Active-duty military personnel have deployed alongside wildland crews to assist with suppression and structure protection.
• Plaskett Fire (California) — Spanning southern Monterey and northern San Luis Obispo counties, the incident keeps Highway 1 closed between Pacific Valley and the county line. Crews are reinforcing containment lines and protecting critical coastal infrastructure.
• Sinlahekin Fire (Washington) — Located northwest of Tonasket in Okanogan County, the fire recently pushed toward Palmer Mountain and Rattlesnake Peak. Evacuation notices and structural protection efforts remain active in adjacent areas.
• Crooked Fire (Idaho) — Burning east of Idaho City in the Boise National Forest, this human-caused incident has prompted area, road, and trail closures. Fire crews are working to defend local infrastructure from spreading perimeters.
• Paradise Fire (Oregon) — Burning in the Umatilla National Forest, this lightning-ignited fire has triggered forest area closures to ensure public safety. Firefighters are focused on holding lines and protecting surrounding timber resources.
• Hagen Fire (Oregon) — Also burning in the Umatilla National Forest, crews are conducting extensive mop-up operations and reinforcing established containment perimeters.
• Bobcat Lakes Fire (Montana) — Located east of Wisdom in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, fire behavior moderated following recent precipitation. Fire managers maintain area closures to protect communication sites and local structures.

Conditions and Outlook

Red Flag Warnings are in effect across parts of southwestern Montana due to gusty winds and low relative humidity, with elevated fire weather extending into adjacent northern plains. Across the Pacific Northwest, overcast skies and moderate temperatures will keep fire potential low before warmer, drier conditions build in early next week. Coastal California will experience mild weather with marine air aiding suppression efforts before a warming trend arrives by midweek.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Washington maintains an expanded statewide outdoor burn ban across multiple counties and tribal lands through late September. Minnesota has lifted all forest-wide burn restrictions in Superior National Forest, while fuels and fire behavior advisories remain active across the Great Basin and the Pacific Northwest.

What Residents Should Do

• Heed all mandatory evacuation orders promptly and avoid closed transportation corridors, especially along coastal California.
• Monitor local air quality conditions and limit outdoor exertion when smoke levels are elevated.
• Comply with local and statewide fire restrictions and avoid any outdoor activities that could create sparks.

Resources

• National Interagency Fire Center
• InciWeb Incident Information System
• AirNow Smoke and Air Quality
• Ready.gov Wildfires Safety