Daily Wildfire Situation Report
Date: April 12, 2026

Here is your national wildfire summary report, reflecting the most current data and conditions over the last 72 hours.

National Overview

According to the latest National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) daily report, the National Preparedness Level is currently at Level 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5). This indicates that while national resource capability remains stable enough to sustain current incident operations, active geographic areas may require some national support.

The 2026 fire season is off to an aggressive and above-normal start. By the end of March, over 1.6 million acres had already burned across the United States, representing a staggering 231% of the previous 10-year average. The current fire season is being heavily driven by a "snow drought" and record-low snowpacks in the West, alongside multi-year drought conditions and early snowmelt. Currently, the majority of the nation's ongoing fire activity is concentrated in the Southern Area, prompting a higher level of interagency coordination.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, fire activity has been relatively light nationally, but a few key fires and regions have required significant attention due to their proximity to populated areas and extreme fire behavior:

1. Springs Fire (Riverside County, California): Burning approximately 64 miles east of Los Angeles, this fire rapidly grew to 4,100 acres after being fanned by high Santa Ana winds. Because of its proximity to Moreno Valley (population roughly 200,000), it triggered immediate evacuation warnings. Fortunately, forward progress has been halted, and the fire is now 75% contained with no structures destroyed.
2. Crown Fire (Los Angeles County, California): Though smaller at 345 acres, this brush fire in a highly populated county prompted rapid response and evacuation warnings for the community of Acton. It is currently 74% contained, and evacuations have been lifted.
3. Cedar Canyon Fire (Oklahoma): This fire has been highly noteworthy due to extreme fire behavior not typically seen this early in the spring. Historically dry grassland fuels caused the fire to spread rapidly into juniper groves, presenting high resistance to control efforts.
4. The Southeast and Southern Great Plains: These regions are currently experiencing a high concentration of the nation's fire risk. Exceptional grass loads from previous wet years have dried out, creating volatile tinder for spring wildfires.

Firefighting Efforts

Nationwide, there are currently 770 firefighting personnel assigned to wildland fire incidents. Over the latest reporting period, 98 new fires were reported, along with four new large fires. There are currently 8 large fires that remain uncontained across the country.

Local, state, and federal crews are heavily engaged where fires have broken out. For example, on the Springs Fire in California, approximately 260 personnel were deployed, utilizing aggressive aerial water and fire retardant drops to build and strengthen containment lines around the urban interface.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Fire weather remains a critical concern for several parts of the country. According to the NIFC predictive outlook:

• Central and Southern High Plains: Elevated to critical fire weather conditions are expected today. Breezy and very dry southwest winds are moving into areas that have received little to no rainfall, meaning any new ignitions could spread rapidly.
• The Southeast and Appalachians: These regions will remain dry through the weekend, with low afternoon relative humidity dropping to 15-30% and poor overnight moisture recovery, keeping fire risks elevated.
• The West and Great Basin: An upper-level trough is moving into the West, bringing much-needed precipitation to the West Coast and western Great Basin. However, breezy and dry southwesterly winds preceding this weather front will create locally elevated fire conditions in the central Rockies and eastern Great Basin before the rain arrives.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

With the 2026 fire season already outpacing historical averages, wildfire prevention and preparation are everyone's responsibility.

• Prepare Your Home: If you live in a Wildland Urban Interface (where communities meet natural landscapes), take simple "Firewise" steps today. Clear dead brush, leaves, and flammable materials from around your home to create a defensible space.
• Stay Informed: Monitor your local National Weather Service forecasts for Red Flag Warnings. If a fire breaks out in your area, rely on official local emergency management channels and InciWeb (the national incident information system) for evacuation orders.
• Recreate Responsibly: The 2026 National Fire Year Theme emphasizes making responsible choices on public lands. Ensure trailer chains are not dragging (which can spark on asphalt), properly extinguish all campfires until they are cold to the touch, and adhere to all local burn bans.