Daily Wildfire Summary Report – April 23, 2026

National Overview

As of April 23, 2026, the National Preparedness Level is at Level 2 (on a scale of 1 to 5). This indicates that while national resource capability remains stable enough to manage current incidents, several geographic areas—particularly the Southern Area—are experiencing high fire activity that requires shared resources.

The 2026 fire season is off to a highly active start. Year-to-date, the United States has seen 22,503 fires burn approximately 1,793,550 acres. This is already significantly above the 10-year average for this point in the year. The elevated fire activity is being driven by persistent atmospheric patterns resembling La Niña, which have brought above-normal temperatures, high winds, and widespread drought conditions, particularly across the Great Plains and the Southeastern United States.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, the Southeast and the Great Plains have been the busiest regions in the nation. Here is a summary of the most impactful and noteworthy fires and regions:

1. Southeast Georgia Wildfires (Brantley County & Surrounding Areas): A severe outbreak of wind-driven fires has burned over 27,000 acres in the region. These rapidly spreading fires have destroyed at least 54 homes, forced hundreds of rapid evacuations, and prompted a state of emergency across 91 counties.
2. Northern Florida Wildfires: Firefighters are battling over 130 active wildfires across the state, including the Sargent Fire (Polk County, 2,489 acres) and the Newman Dr Fire (Collier County, 1,733 acres). These fires have disrupted train services and caused heavy smoke impacts across the region.
3. Qury Fire (Custer, South Dakota): One of the larger individual fires currently burning, having consumed 9,168 acres. Fire crews have made excellent progress, and it is currently 95% contained.
4. Hammer Fire (El Paso, Colorado): A newly ignited fire that has rapidly grown to 4,958 acres and is currently 0% contained.
5. Bon Homme Fire (South Dakota): Currently burning across 4,000 acres of dry fuels with 19% containment.
6. Lightning Roll Fire (Beaver, Oklahoma): Burning 2,412 acres in the dry plains, currently 70% contained.
7. Purple Monster Fire (Oldham, Texas): Has burned 1,911 acres and is 95% contained.
8. SUNNY Fire (Osage, Oklahoma): An active fire that has burned 1,837 acres.
9. Peterson Fire (Holt, Nebraska): A recent ignition that has burned 1,000 acres and remains 0% contained.

Firefighting Efforts

Nationwide, there are currently 60 active large incidents being suppressed, which have burned a combined 80,857 acres. To combat these blazes, approximately 1,500 wildland firefighting personnel are currently assigned to incidents across the country. The Southern Area is currently drawing the most resources, with crews working aggressively to catch new fires early and build containment lines around uncontained large fires in challenging, dry timber and grass fuels.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Fire weather is a major concern this week, with more than 15 million people in the central U.S. under fire weather alerts. Roughly 3.8 million people are facing "critical fire weather" conditions—prompting Red Flag Warnings—across parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

A storm system moving into the central states is bringing dangerous wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph, combined with single-digit relative humidity and temperatures 15 to 25 degrees above average. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) warns that these conditions mean any spark can develop into a fast-moving, uncontrollable wildfire.

In the Southeast, very dry conditions persist with minimum relative humidity dropping to 20-30%. The resulting smoke from the Georgia and Florida fires has prompted air quality warnings as far north as Atlanta and into neighboring states like South Carolina.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

With the elevated fire risk across much of the country, residents are urged to take the following precautions:

• Heed Local Warnings: Pay close attention to Red Flag Warnings, burn bans, and evacuation orders from local authorities. Have an evacuation plan and a "go-bag" ready if you live in a fire-prone area.
• Prevent Human-Caused Fires: Check local restrictions before doing any outdoor burning. If you must have a campfire, keep water and a shovel nearby, never leave it unattended, and ensure it is cool to the touch before leaving.
• Vehicle Safety: Avoid parking or driving vehicles on dry grass, as hot exhaust systems can easily ignite fine fuels.
• Protect Your Health: If you are in an area affected by wildfire smoke, limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed, and use air purifiers if available. This is especially important for older adults and those with compromised respiratory systems.