Daily Wildfire Situation Report
Date: July 18, 2026

National Overview

As of the morning of July 18, 2026, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has elevated the National Preparedness Level to Level 5 (PL 5)—the highest stage of national response. This indicates that national wildland firefighting resources are heavily committed, and multiple geographic areas are experiencing major incidents that have the potential to exhaust all available agency fire resources.

So far this year, 40,357 fires have burned more than 3.8 million acres across the United States. The current fire season is running significantly ahead of normal and is exhibiting conditions typically not seen until mid-August. For context, the ten-year national average for July is Preparedness Level 3. The severity of the 2026 season has been driven by climate extremes, prolonged hot and dry weather, and widespread lightning events that have primed vegetation for rapid, explosive fire growth.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, fire activity has intensified, with firefighters working to suppress 73 large fires across the country, including 17 new large incidents. Below is a summary of the 10 most noteworthy and impactful fires currently burning, prioritized by size and regional impact:

1. Babylon Fire (Utah): Currently the largest active fire in the nation at 107,173 acres and 62% contained. Burning near Blanding and Bears Ears National Monument, it has prompted closures in Canyonlands National Park.
2. Aspen Acres Fire (Colorado): A massive, highly active blaze in Custer County that has reached 99,820 acres and is 48% contained.
3. Cottonwood Fire (Utah): Burning 97,458 acres in Beaver County. Firefighters have made excellent progress, reaching 90% containment on what has become one of the most destructive fires in the state's history.
4. Ferris Fire (Colorado): Currently at 64,881 acres and 59% contained in Montezuma County. It recently merged with the Doe Canyon Fire and continues to threaten rural communities and recreation areas.
5. Gold Mountain Fire (Colorado): A rapidly growing fire near the city of Ouray, currently at 37,734 acres with only 13% containment.
6. Bear Trap Fire (Minnesota): Burning over 34,000 acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It has exhibited extreme fire behavior, crossed the international border into Canada, and is heavily impacting regional air quality across the Upper Midwest.
7. Snyder Fire (Colorado/Utah Border): Has scorched 28,264 acres but is now 98% contained thanks to aggressive suppression efforts and favorable line construction.
8. Pocket Fire (Arizona): Burning 27,393 acres in Yavapai County, currently 83% contained.
9. Grapevine Fire (Nevada): Reached 26,464 acres in Lincoln County, with crews successfully achieving 99% containment.
10. Elephant Fire (California): Burning 13,016 acres in Plumas County and is 31% contained.

Note: The Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington) is also experiencing a severe surge in fire activity, reporting numerous new large incidents following a prolonged period of lightning over the past 72 hours.

Firefighting Efforts

A massive interagency response is currently underway to protect lives, property, and natural resources. According to the latest NIFC report, 17,683 firefighters and support personnel are engaged in nationwide fire activity. Deployed resources currently include 374 wildland fire crews, 1,081 engines, and 139 helicopters.

To bolster these stretched resources, military support has been activated. Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) C-130 airtankers and support personnel from the Colorado, Wyoming, and California Air National Guards have been deployed to bases in Oregon and California to support wildland fire operations nationally.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Fire weather conditions remain a critical hurdle for suppression efforts. Red Flag Warnings and Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisories are currently in place across the Pacific Northwest, the Great Basin, and the Rocky Mountain geographic areas.

Hot, dry, and breezy conditions are expected to persist across the Inland Northwest into northern California and the western Great Basin today, accompanied by downslope winds east of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Furthermore, monsoonal moisture circulating beneath a high-pressure ridge is forecast to bring scattered to widespread dry and wet thunderstorms across the eastern Great Basin into Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.

For firefighting efforts, these conditions mean a high risk of new fire starts from lightning strikes. Strong winds combined with critically dry vegetation will drive rapid fire spread, making it highly dangerous for crews to establish direct containment lines. According to the NIFC predictive outlook, above-normal significant fire potential will persist across much of the Greater Four Corners, the Great Basin, the Northwest, and northeast California. Communities in these regions should be highly concerned about the potential for rapid fire spread and sudden new ignitions.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

With the nation at its highest level of wildfire preparedness, public vigilance and cooperation are essential:

• Stay Informed: Monitor official incident information through InciWeb (inciweb.wildfire.gov) and your local emergency management agencies.
• Sign Up for Alerts: Ensure you are registered for your county's "Ready-Set-Go" or equivalent emergency notification systems to receive immediate evacuation warnings to your mobile device.
• Heed Evacuation Orders: If an evacuation order is issued for your area, leave immediately. Do not wait to see if the fire approaches.
• Prevent Human-Caused Fires: Adhere strictly to all local forest and county fire restrictions. Avoid any activities that could create a spark, such as dragging trailer chains, parking hot vehicles on dry grass, or using fireworks.
• Protect Your Health: Wildfire smoke is severely impacting air quality across multiple regions. If you are in a smoke-affected area, keep windows closed, use HEPA air purifiers if available, and limit outdoor physical activity, especially if you have respiratory sensitivities.