Here is the daily wildfire summary report for the United States, reflecting the current situation and data over the last 72 hours.

National Overview

As of June 29, 2026, the National Preparedness Level is at Level 3 (PL3). This indicates that wildland fire activity is significant across multiple geographic areas, requiring the national mobilization of resources to sustain incident management operations. While resource capability remains stable enough nationally to meet objectives, areas with lower fire activity are beginning to share resources with highly active regions.

So far this year, 35,247 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres nationwide. The current fire season is experiencing heightened demand for firefighting resources due to prolonged hot, dry, and windy conditions across the Western U.S., compounded by severe, historic drought in regions like Utah and Arizona. Over the last 72 hours alone, more than 100 new fires were reported, and crews are currently working to contain 36 large, active fires across the country.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Extreme heat, low humidity, and high winds have fueled rapid fire growth over the weekend, particularly in the West. The following are the most impactful and noteworthy fires over the last 72 hours:

1. Cottonwood Fire (Utah): Currently the largest active wildfire in the nation, this blaze in the Fishlake National Forest near Beaver, Utah, exploded over the weekend to more than 92,000 acres. Driven by low humidity and strong winds, it remains 0% contained.
2. Iron Fire (Utah): Burning in Juab County, this fire has blackened roughly 21,000 acres (34 square miles) and forced the evacuation of the town of Eureka (population 1,000). Firefighters have conducted successful backburn operations to protect the town.
3. Colorado-Utah Border Fires (Knowles, Gore, and Snyder Fires): These wind-driven fires are highly significant due to their tragic impact. Over the weekend, three federal wildland firefighters were killed and two others injured after being trapped by the Snyder wildfire during an explosive night of fire activity.
4. South Fork Fire (Nebraska): One of the largest fires in the country at nearly 40,000 acres. Fortunately, crews have achieved 90% containment with minimal current fire behavior.
5. Ferris Fire (Colorado): Ignited by suspected lightning, this fire north of Cortez in the San Juan National Forest has quickly grown to over 10,600 acres. It is being driven by high winds that were strong enough to temporarily suspend air operations on Sunday.
6. Willow Fire (Colorado): Burning near Mount Massive in Lake County, this 1,000+ acre fire has prompted evacuation orders for campers and hikers around Turquoise Lake.
7. Doe Canyon Fire (Colorado): A lightning-caused fire that has burned roughly 1,050 acres in the San Juan National Forest. Crews are making good progress on the southern edge of the incident.
8. Gold Mountain Fire (Colorado): Burning 572 acres in steep, rugged terrain northwest of Ouray. The rapid growth of this fire prompted a disaster emergency declaration from the state governor over the weekend.
9. Red Rock Fire (Colorado): A 340-acre fire near Debeque burning on BLM-managed public lands. Crews have managed to bring the blaze to 60% containment.
10. Oak Creek Canyon Fire (Arizona): A 300-acre blaze near Sedona burning in steep, rugged terrain that prompted weekend evacuations and a heavy response from local personnel.

Firefighting Efforts

A massive, coordinated interagency response is underway to protect communities, infrastructure, and natural resources. Nationwide, more than 5,000 personnel—including multiple complex incident management teams, wildland fire crews, aviation support, and heavy equipment operators—are deployed across eight geographic areas. The Great Basin currently has the largest concentration of large fires.

The national firefighting community is also mourning the devastating loss of three wildland firefighters who died in the line of duty, and two who were injured, over the weekend while battling the Snyder fire on the Colorado-Utah border.

Weather and Fire Conditions

A significant and dangerous weather pattern change is taking shape across the West, which will heavily impact ongoing firefighting efforts and community safety.

• Critical Fire Weather & Red Flag Warnings: Extremely critical fire weather is quickly developing. Relative humidity levels are plummeting to as low as 3–10%, paired with southwesterly wind gusts of 30–50 mph. These conditions are prominent in the lee of the southern Sierra, southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and Utah.
• Dry Lightning & Holdover Fires: Areas that picked up abundant lightning over the last few days are at high risk. "Holdover" fires (smoldering lightning strikes) are likely to emerge as winds pick up, and established fires may see explosive, wind-driven growth.
• Regional Outlooks: Scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will continue from eastern Arizona into New Mexico, potentially contributing to new fire starts and gusty outflow winds. Conversely, showers and Pacific moisture are bringing some moderating conditions to the Northwest and northern Rockies. The Mid-Atlantic states are experiencing hot, dry, and breezy conditions, while the coastal Southeast will see scattered thunderstorms.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

With the National Preparedness Level elevated and extreme fire weather in the forecast, residents in fire-prone areas must remain vigilant:

• Stay Informed: Monitor local emergency management channels and use trusted interagency sources like InciWeb for real-time, incident-specific updates, maps, and evacuation orders.
• Prepare a Go-Bag: Ensure you have an emergency kit ready with essential documents, medications, water, pet supplies, and clothing in case you need to evacuate at a moment's notice.
• Adhere to Restrictions: Multiple states, including Utah and Colorado, have implemented emergency declarations, statewide fireworks bans, and fire restrictions due to historic drought conditions. Please respect all local burn bans to prevent human-caused ignitions, which stretch already limited firefighting resources.
• Create Defensible Space: If you live in a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and it is safe to do so, clear dry brush, leaves, and dead vegetation from around your property to give firefighters a better chance to defend your home.