National Preparedness Level Drops as Fire Activity Moderates Across the Country

The National Wildland Fire Preparedness Level has dropped to Level 2 as initial attack activity and resource demands ease across the country. While total activity and burned area this season remain well above the ten-year average, national strain has diminished considerably. Fire crews continue actively managing several dozen uncontained blazes, with regional activity centered in the Northwest, California, and parts of the South.

Significant Fires

• Dome Fire (California) — Burning in Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, the fire continues to spot and flank in heavy timber following a fatal firefighting helicopter crash during water-drop operations. Emergency trail and area closures remain active around Ostrander Lake and Chilnualna Falls.
• Timber Fire (California) — Located southeast of Big Sur in the Los Padres National Forest, the blaze continues to threaten residences and communication infrastructure. Crews are actively securing lines and conducting mop-up operations along the Highway 1 corridor.
• Three Queens Fire (Washington) — Burning east of Snoqualmie Pass in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, active evacuation orders and area closures remain in effect. Firefighters are prioritizing structural protection for homes near Cooper Lake and Lake Kachess.
• Sisi Fire (Washington) — Burning north of Stehekin in Chelan County, the lightning-caused fire threatens residential properties and power infrastructure in the Lake Chelan basin. Fire crews are working to reinforce local fuel breaks and community defense lines.
• Border 2 Fire (Washington) — Located in remote terrain within North Cascades National Park along the Canadian border, the fire continues to burn in rugged wilderness. National park officials have closed several backcountry sectors and trail systems for public safety.
• Chileno Fire (California) — Ignited east of Tomales in Marin County, the fire is burning through brush and rangeland. Ground crews have established significant containment lines while protecting nearby ranch structures.
• Gracemont Fire (Oklahoma) — Burning east of Binger in Caddo County, the fire is now contained after destroying dozens of homes and agricultural buildings. All local evacuation orders have been lifted as crews finalize mop-up operations.
• Bunker Fire (Arkansas) — Burning near East Camden in Calhoun County, the blaze is now contained after multi-state National Guard aerial operations helped defend industrial plants and munitions storage bunkers.

Conditions and Outlook

Elevated fire potential will persist across the Lower Mississippi Valley over the next several days due to unseasonable heat and low relative humidity. In the West, mild conditions with light winds are expected across the Sierra Nevada, while incoming moisture will bring rain showers and higher humidity to the Washington Cascades by late week. There are currently no active National Weather Service Red Flag Warnings in effect.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Emergency forest and backcountry closures remain in place across sections of Yosemite National Park, North Cascades National Park, and the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Tahoe National Forests.

What Residents Should Do

• Monitor local emergency management alerts and adhere immediately to all evacuation orders.
• Check regional air quality advisories and limit strenuous outdoor activity when smoke is present.
• Verify public land and trailhead closure orders before traveling to backcountry recreation areas.