Crews battle timber fires in Wyoming and Oregon amid calm national conditions

The United States remains at Preparedness Level 1 with minimal large fire activity and light initial attack nationwide. While cumulative fire activity and total burned area this year remain well above the ten-year average, national competition for suppression resources is currently low. Only a small handful of uncontained large blazes remain under active suppression across the country.

Significant Fires

• Foot Creek Fire (Wyoming) — Burning in timber and brush west of Buffalo within Bighorn National Forest, the blaze threatens nearby homes and has prompted emergency forest road closures and Level 2 evacuation warnings. Firefighters are holding containment lines with ground crews and aircraft as gusty winds ease into midweek.
• Prospect Fire (Oregon) — Igniting west of Lake Billy Chinook in Jefferson County, the fire threatened structures before crews successfully completed dozer lines and buffer zones around nearby homes. Evacuation notices for the Three Rivers area have been downgraded to Level 1 as crews focus on mop-up operations.
• Wild River Fire (New Hampshire) — Located southwest of Shelburne in the White Mountain National Forest, the fire is burning through hardwood litter with crews and helicopters mopping up smoldering interior hot spots. Wild River Road and adjacent hiking trails remain closed for public safety, though the nearby Appalachian Trail stays open.
• Ridge Fire (Michigan) — Managed by state forestry officials in Marquette County, the fire is largely surrounded with no structural damage reported. Personnel continue patrolling and reinforcing containment lines across smoldering ground fuels.
• Bee Haven 2 Fire (Florida) — Burning northwest of Lake City in Hamilton County, the fire is largely hemmed in with minimal activity reported in southern rough fuels. State fire crews remain on scene monitoring and mopping up lingering smoldering fuels.

Conditions and Outlook

Fire weather conditions have moderated across the country, with offshore winds diminishing in Southern California and no active red flag warnings nationwide. In northern Wyoming, gusty winds around the Foot Creek Fire will taper off into light breezes alongside cool nights and mild, dry afternoons. Across central Oregon, mild temperatures and light winds will give way to increasing southerly breezes before substantial rain arrives later in the week.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Lake Chinook Fire & Rescue in Oregon has suspended all outdoor burning permits indefinitely following recent fire starts. Meanwhile, favorable conditions have allowed prescribed burning operations to proceed, including pile burning in Oregon's Deschutes National Forest southwest of Crescent and fuels reduction projects across portions of Placer, El Dorado, and Los Angeles counties in California.

What Residents Should Do

• Monitor local emergency notification portals and remain prepared to evacuate if living near active fire perimeters under Level 1 or Level 2 warnings.
• Respect emergency forest road and trail closures around the Bighorn and White Mountain national forests.
• Check with local fire protection districts before conducting any outdoor burning, adhering to permit suspensions and regional restrictions.