Light National Wildfire Activity Persists as Autumn Weather Moderates Fire Spread

The national wildfire preparedness level remains at Level 1, reflecting light initial attack and only a small number of uncontained large fires burning nationwide. Season-to-date fire activity and cumulative acreage burned remain well above the ten-year national average. Overall suppression demand continues to ease across the country, with no complex incident management teams currently deployed.

Significant Fires

• Sisi Fire (Washington) — Creeping and smoldering in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest northwest of Stehekin, the fire continues to threaten nearby residences. Area, road, and trail closures remain enforced as cooler conditions and mountain precipitation slow fire behavior.
• Bee Haven Fire (Florida) — Burning northwest of Lake City in Hamilton County, the incident has exhibited active burning and short-range spotting. Crews conducted tactical burnout operations between County Road 6 East and County Road 137 to reinforce lines, generating heavy smoke and hazardous driving conditions.
• Ridge Fire (Michigan) — Smoldering through timber and hardwood litter north of Negaunee, the fire continues to threaten local structures. Containment operations are ongoing, and surrounding trail closures remain in place.
• Cooley Fire (California) — Burning in timber and brush west of Cloverdale, the fire held firmly within its established perimeter with no structural losses. Firefighters have now completed containment around the entire incident.
• Kickapoo Creek Fire (Texas) — Igniting in timber east of Trinity, the fire initially threatened nearby structures with active flanking spread. Local and state responders quickly surrounded the perimeter and brought the incident to full containment with zero structures lost.

Conditions and Outlook

Critical fire weather has subsided nationally, with recent Red Flag Warnings across the northern Plains expiring and no critical fire weather areas expected across the country over the next three days. Significant fire potential remains low to lowest throughout the northern Plains and Rocky Mountain regions under cooler autumn weather. Incoming cloud cover, lower temperatures, and high-elevation precipitation will aid suppression in the Pacific Northwest, while persistent northeasterly breezes maintain dry conditions in the Southeast.

Burn Bans and Land Management

Countywide burn bans are active across 58 counties in Mississippi due to worsening drought, strictly prohibiting all outdoor burning under misdemeanor penalties. Forestry officials across East and Southeast Texas are also urging the public to avoid outdoor burning and exercise extreme caution with equipment in dry vegetation.

What Residents Should Do

• Comply strictly with countywide burn bans and avoid any outdoor burning or open flames.
• Respect all forest, road, and trail closures in active incident zones across Washington and Michigan.
• Drive with extra caution and reduce speeds in smoke-impacted corridors, particularly along county routes in northern Florida.