Puerto Rico Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Puerto Rico - July 13, 2026

Overview

Puerto Rico is currently facing an above-normal significant wildland fire potential for July, as forecasted by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). Following an unusually wet fall in 2025 that spurred widespread vegetation growth, an early 2026 drought has severely dried out these abundant fuels. Combined with extreme heat and persistent rainfall deficits, these conditions have primed the island for a highly active fire season, particularly across the southern and western regions.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Wildfire activity has notably increased across Puerto Rico, driven by the dry season and extreme temperatures. The Puerto Rico Fire Department (PRFD) and local utility crews are actively responding to multiple incidents. The combination of dry vegetation, challenging terrain, and hot weather has elevated the vulnerability of the island, requiring coordinated emergency response protocols with public safety agencies to manage incident objectives.

Key Fires:
Sabana Grande and Ciales Fires: Recent wildfires in the municipalities of Sabana Grande and Ciales have burned through critically dry vegetation, grass, and brush. These fires have directly impacted and threatened critical electrical transmission infrastructure. Crews have been deployed to replace damaged poles and insulators, and aerial teams utilizing Bambi Bucket systems have been activated to assist in suppression, protect the electric grid, and minimize power service disruptions.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: To mitigate the escalating wildfire risk, the PRFD and local land managers are prioritizing fuel mitigation and the creation of firebreaks. Concurrently, utility companies have accelerated vegetation management activities, clearing field hazards to create a greater buffer between electrical infrastructure and potential ignition sources.

Air Quality: High concentrations of Saharan dust are currently moving across the region, creating a hazy atmosphere and reducing air quality. This dust, combined with smoke from ongoing grass and brush fires, may impact residents, particularly in downwind coastal and central areas. Residents in these areas should be aware and use caution.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: The National Weather Service in San Juan has issued a Fire Danger Statement due to elevated fire risks. Surface weather stations across southern Puerto Rico have recorded relative humidity values dropping into the 40s and 50s, accompanied by strong easterly wind gusts reaching the upper 20s to low 30s mph.
Forecasted Weather: Over the next 72 hours, hot and mostly dry conditions are expected to persist. While peripheral moisture from a tropical wave passing well south of the Caribbean may offer a slight, temporary increase in humidity, the critically dry fuels and ongoing rainfall deficits will continue to favor rapid fire growth and spread across Puerto Rico, Culebra, and Vieques.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are advised to be mindful of fire traffic, potential smoke impacts, and hazy conditions due to Saharan dust. It is crucial to have an emergency plan in place and to clear dead brush from properties to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. Due to the extreme heat, individuals should also take precautions against heat exhaustion.
Resource Allocation: Firefighters and utility crews are working under challenging conditions to manage the elevated fire risk. Agencies are training for increased fire risk, conducting fuel mitigation projects, and utilizing advanced aerial operations to clear high-risk areas and protect critical infrastructure.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
National Weather Service - San Juan: www.weather.gov/sju
Puerto Rico Emergency Management Bureau (NMEAD): manejodeemergencias.pr.gov

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.