Daily Wildfire Situation Report
Date: July 27, 2026

National Overview

The United States is currently experiencing a well above-average and highly active wildfire season. As of the latest National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) daily report, the National Preparedness Level remains at Level 5—the highest possible level. This indicates that national firefighting resources are heavily committed, and active geographic areas are taking emergency measures to sustain incident operations.

Currently, there are 90 large active fires burning across the country. So far in 2026, 42,157 fires have burned more than 4 million acres nationwide. This is significantly higher than the 10-year average of approximately 3 million acres for this time of year. The surge in acreage is attributed to unseasonal winter fires earlier this year in Nebraska, followed by a recent and aggressive spike in fire activity across the Pacific Northwest, the Great Basin, and the Rocky Mountains.

Significant Wildfire Situations

Over the last 72 hours, intense heat and dry conditions have fueled rapid fire growth. The following 10 fires and regions are currently the most noteworthy based on size, community impact, and resource prioritization:

1. Big Grass Fire (Oregon/Idaho Border): Burning rapidly across rangelands, this fire has exploded to approximately 196,963 acres and is only 5% contained. Level 3 "GO" evacuation orders are in place for Pleasant Valley, South Mountain, and Jordan Valley.
2. Rowe Creek Complex (Oregon): Burning across Wheeler, Wasco, and Jefferson counties, this complex has reached 142,936 acres with 0% containment.
3. Kaiser Canyon Fire (Washington): Now topping 106,000 acres on the Colville Reservation. The town of Nespelem is under a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order. Roughly 20 structures have been destroyed, and 800 more remain threatened.
4. Hay Creek Complex (Oregon): Affecting Gilliam, Wasco, and Sherman counties, this fire has burned 92,211 acres and is currently 27% contained.
5. Northern Minnesota Fires (Minnesota): Approximately 68,851 acres have burned in the Superior National Forest. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness remains closed through July 29, with "GO" evacuation orders active on the Fernberg corridor.
6. Akawa Butte Fire (Oregon): Though smaller at 10,391 acres, this is currently designated as the nation's top priority fire due to its immediate threat to populated areas. Level 1 to 3 evacuations span three counties, and the City of Huntington was ordered to evacuate on Sunday.
7. Perkins Fire (Montana): Located west of Anaconda, this fire experienced rapid growth over the weekend due to hot, dry, and windy conditions, heavily impacting regional air quality.
8. Elder 1 Fire (Montana): Burning south of Frenchtown, this fire is spreading quickly and contributing to severe air quality alerts across downwind communities.
9. North Fork Lost Horse Fire (Montana): Southwest of Hamilton, this fire is spreading rapidly through dense fuels and steep terrain.
10. Knowles Fire (Colorado): While ignited in late June, this fire remains highly noteworthy today as the wildland fire community mourns the loss of a fourth firefighter, Nathan Matthews, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during a burnover event on June 27.

Firefighting Efforts

The nationwide mobilization of firefighting resources is massive. According to the NIFC, there are currently 25,310 firefighters and support personnel engaged in wildfire suppression across the United States.

Deployed resources include:

• 565 hand crews
• 1,501 engines
• 141 helicopters
• 27 complex incident management teams

The firefighting community is operating under immense strain, and the recent confirmation of a fourth fatality from the Knowles Fire is a sobering reminder of the extreme dangers frontline responders are facing this season.

Weather and Fire Conditions

Fire weather conditions remain highly volatile. Widespread elevated-to-critical fire weather (Red Flag conditions) is expected today across the Inland Northwest, the Northern Rockies, and the Northwestern Great Basin.

• Winds and Humidity: Firefighters are battling westerly winds of 15–25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph, combined with critically low relative humidity dropping to 5–20%.
• Extreme Heat: Extreme Heat Warnings are active across the central U.S. (with heat indices up to 115°F in Kansas and Missouri) as well as the Southern California deserts and Las Vegas.
• Dry Thunderstorms: Isolated mixed wet and dry thunderstorms are forecast across southern Montana and Wyoming this afternoon, bringing a high risk of new lightning-caused ignitions.
• Community Impact: Massive smoke plumes are traveling across the continent. Montana has issued widespread Air Quality Alerts due to heavy particulate matter from local and regional fires. Furthermore, the dense smoke is beginning to interfere with the U.S. power grid by significantly reducing solar power generation capabilities in affected regions.

Information for Concerned Residents and Citizens

• Heed Evacuation Orders: If you are in a Level 3 "Go Now" zone, leave immediately. Do not wait to gather belongings. If you are in a Level 1 or 2 zone, pack your emergency bags, plan your evacuation route, and be ready to leave at a moment's notice.
• Monitor Air Quality: Residents in the Northwest, Northern Rockies, and Midwest should monitor local air quality indexes. Keep windows closed, run air purifiers if available, and limit outdoor physical activity, especially for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.
• Prevent Accidental Ignitions: With national resources stretched to their absolute limit, human-caused fires can be catastrophic. Obey all local burn bans, avoid parking vehicles on dry grass, and ensure trailer chains are not dragging and sparking on the highway.
• Stay Informed: For real-time, incident-specific details, maps, and official evacuation notices, visit InciWeb (inciweb.nwcg.gov) and monitor alerts from your local county sheriff's office or emergency management agency.