National Wildfire Situation Report
Date: June 12, 2026

National Overview

The National Preparedness Level currently sits at Level 2, indicating that while national fire activity has been relatively light over the past several weeks, active geographic areas are requiring national support to accomplish incident management objectives. Resource capabilities remain stable enough nationally to sustain current operations.

As of today, there are 11 uncontained large fires burning nationwide. So far this year, 32,373 fires have burned more than 2.5 million acres across the United States. These year-to-date numbers are significantly above the 10-year averages of 23,626 fires and 1.43 million acres for this time of year.

Experts and fire agencies are warning that 2026 is shaping up to be a "fire year" rather than a traditional "fire season". Driven by widespread drought—currently affecting 62% of the continental United States—vegetation has become highly susceptible to ignition, leading to an early and intense start to the year's fire activity.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, several notable fires have impacted communities and required significant resources. Here is a summary of the most impactful active and recently contained fires:

1. South Fork Fire (Nebraska): This is currently one of the most critical incidents in the country. The fire is actively threatening numerous residences, and evacuation orders are currently in place. Due to its impact and complexity, a complex incident management team has been deployed to manage the situation.
2. Seven Cabins Fire (New Mexico): Located in Lincoln County, this large wildfire has burned 31,860 acres. Firefighting crews have made excellent progress, bringing the fire to 94% containment.
3. Raven Creek Fire (Wyoming): Burning in Weston County, this fire has consumed 3,789 acres. Crews have successfully reached 90% containment.
4. Jefferson Fire (Alaska): Sparked by lightning on June 12 near Circle, Alaska, this fire was quickly identified by U.S. Wildland Fire Service personnel. Smokejumpers and water-scooping aircraft were rapidly deployed, successfully halting the fire's spread before it could threaten nearby values.
5. Big Cypress National Preserve Fires (Florida): Human-caused fires in the preserve have generated dense smoke across South Florida over recent days. The smoke impacts have been significant enough to force temporary closures of major transportation corridors, including Alligator Alley.

Firefighting Efforts

To combat the current wildfires, there are 2,559 firefighting personnel assigned to incidents across the country. This includes ground crews, smokejumpers, aviation assets (such as helicopters, water scoopers, and air tankers), and specialized heavy equipment. A complex incident management team is actively committed to the South Fork Fire in Nebraska to coordinate the heavy resource response needed for community protection.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Many red flag warnings and heat advisories are currently in place throughout the country. Both weather and fuel models predict increased fire danger across multiple geographic areas in the coming weeks.

Widespread elevated to critical fire weather conditions will persist today across portions of the Southwest, Great Basin, Rocky Mountain areas, and California. In these regions, communities should be concerned about variable winds between 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, combined with critically low relative humidity values between 5% and 15%. The highest winds are expected across the West Slope and the central Great Plains. Furthermore, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees are expected across the central California valleys, Las Vegas, and southern portions of the Southwest.

A storm threat is returning to the Southwest, bringing chances of isolated storms in Arizona and widespread thunderstorms across eastern New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. In the northern Rockies, scattered thunderstorms are moving east across northern Idaho and Montana. While these storms bring some moisture, they are accompanied by gusty, erratic winds and lightning, which pose a significant risk for new fire starts and can complicate current firefighting efforts.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

With high fire danger across much of the country, the public plays a crucial role in preventing new fire starts.

• Vehicle Safety: Taking care of your vehicle is an important way to prevent dangerous wildfires. Ensure your vehicle is in good working condition so sparks do not fly from the exhaust or brakes. Secure any towing chains so they do not drag on the pavement, and always park on paved surfaces rather than dry grass or vegetation.
• Campfire Vigilance: If you are recreating outdoors, be highly vigilant around campfires and barbecues. Watch for sparks, embers, and wind. Before you leave the area or go to sleep, ensure your fire or grill is completely extinguished and cool to the touch.
• Stay Informed: Residents in fire-prone areas should remain alert, heed all local evacuation warnings, and monitor trusted sources like InciWeb for real-time, incident-specific details and maps.