Here is the daily wildfire summary report for the United States as of June 28, 2026.

National Overview

As of this morning, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) has set the National Preparedness Level at Level 3 (on a scale of 1 to 5). This level indicates that wildland fire activity is significantly impacting several geographic areas, requiring the national mobilization of resources to sustain incident management operations. At Level 3, moving resources from non-active regions carries a moderate to high risk should new fires ignite.

Over the last 72 hours, fire activity has escalated rapidly. In a single day this week, 104 new fires were reported nationwide, including six new large fires. So far this year, 35,247 fires have burned more than 2.9 million acres across the country. The current fire season is proving to be highly active compared to recent years, driven by a combination of persistent drought, record-low winter snowpack in parts of the West, and recent widespread dry lightning events.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Currently, firefighters are actively working to contain 36 large fires across the country. The most impactful and noteworthy incidents over the last 72 hours include:

1. Cottonwood Fire (Utah): The largest fire currently burning in the nation has scorched approximately 59,600 acres (24,000 hectares) in Beaver County and remains 0% contained. Ignited earlier this week, the fire has exhibited rapid, wind-driven growth, forcing mandatory evacuations for numerous settlements and campgrounds, including Eagle Point.
2. Iron Fire (Utah): A human-caused fire west of Eureka has grown to over 13,000 acres and is 0% contained. Authorities issued "life-threatening" evacuation orders for the town of Eureka, where crews have been actively defending homes.
3. Quarry 2 Fire & Coptic Fire (Florida): In western Miami-Dade, the Quarry 2 Fire has burned roughly 20,000 acres but has reached 97% containment after an intense week of firefighting. The nearby Coptic Fire has burned 5,700 acres and is 60% contained. These fires have caused significant air quality issues and major highway closures across South Florida.
4. Orange Fire (California): A fast-moving, wind-driven fire in Sacramento County rapidly scorched 1,200 acres in just 12 hours, forcing the mandatory evacuation of roughly 8,400 residents across El Dorado Hills, Folsom, and Fair Oaks.
5. Pocket Fire (Arizona): Burning north of Sedona in the Coconino National Forest, this 500-acre fire has prompted mandatory evacuations and the closure of State Route 89A.
6. Bonneville Fire (Utah): A 400-acre fire in the foothills above the University of Utah in Salt Lake City prompted temporary shelter-in-place advisories and ongoing trail closures.
7. Deer Canyon Fire (New Mexico): A 350-acre fire south of Mountainair is exhibiting extreme fire behavior in piñon-juniper and grass fuels, threatening residences and triggering local evacuations.

Firefighting Efforts

Wildland fire response is a highly coordinated national effort, and resources are currently stretched across multiple states. Thousands of wildland firefighters, support personnel, and incident management teams are currently deployed to suppress the 36 large active fires. Because wildland fire does not follow state lines, engines, aircraft, and crews are being dynamically reassigned from areas with lower activity to the most critical incidents.

To bolster nationwide aerial firefighting capabilities, the Department of Defense, at the request of the National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group, has mobilized C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS). These military aircraft are actively assisting civilian agencies with aerial water and retardant drops.

Weather and Fire Conditions

According to the NIFC Predictive Services outlook, a significant weather pattern change is taking shape across the West today, bringing extremely critical fire weather to areas that recently received abundant lightning.

• The West: Communities in the lee of the southern Sierra, southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and Utah should be on high alert. Relative humidity levels are plummeting to 3–10%, accompanied by southwesterly wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph. These conditions are likely to awaken "lightning holdovers" (smoldering fires from previous lightning strikes) and cause explosive, wind-driven growth on established fires.
• The Southwest: Scattered mixed wet and dry thunderstorms will continue from eastern Arizona into New Mexico, potentially sparking new fires and generating erratic, gusty outflow winds that make firefighting highly dangerous.
• The Northwest: Showers and Pacific moisture will bring some moderating, favorable conditions from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

• Heed Evacuation Orders: If local authorities issue an evacuation order, leave immediately. Do not delay to gather belongings if a "life-threatening" alert is issued. Have a "go-bag" ready with essential documents, medications, and supplies.
• Protect Your Health from Smoke: Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can severely impact your respiratory system. If you are in an area affected by smoke (such as South Florida or the Salt Lake basin), keep doors and windows closed, run air purifiers if available, and limit outdoor physical activity.
• Prevent Human-Caused Fires: With extreme fire weather in place, a single spark can ignite a massive wildfire. Adhere to all local burn bans, avoid parking hot vehicles on dry grass, and ensure trailer chains are not dragging on the pavement.
• Stay Informed: Monitor official sources such as InciWeb, your local emergency management agency, and the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for the latest updates and safety directives.