Tennessee Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for Tennessee - August 23, 2026

Overview

Tennessee is currently experiencing relatively low fire danger across the state. While the Tennessee drought monitor indicates that portions of the state are experiencing abnormally dry to extreme drought conditions, the summer vegetation green-up combined with recent moisture and high humidity has helped keep the widespread wildfire risk minimal. The current National Preparedness Level for the region remains low, and state and local resources are not heavily committed to active incidents.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: Over the past 72 hours, wildland fire activity across Tennessee has been minimal. Recent precipitation and excellent overnight humidity recovery have kept the threat of new ignitions low. Firefighters and land management agencies continue to monitor conditions closely, especially given the underlying drought conditions in parts of the state, as they prepare for the transition toward the fall fire season.

Key Fires:

• Meigs Aubreezy Ridge Fire: Located in Meigs County, this small incident is currently estimated at 4 acres and is 75% contained. The fire is burning in typical summer vegetation and brush. Crews have made excellent progress on containment lines and are actively monitoring the area for any remaining hotspots to prevent further spread. There are currently no major communities, structures, or values at risk.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry’s annual burn permit requirement is currently paused for the summer. Burn permits are not required during these months and will officially resume on October 15, 2026, which marks the traditional beginning of Tennessee's fall fire season. Landowners conducting voluntary growing-season prescribed burns are urged to monitor local fire environment factors, develop thorough burn plans, and ensure adequate resources are available to safely accomplish their objectives.

Air Quality: With minimal active wildland fires and limited prescribed burning occurring across the state, smoke impacts are negligible. Air quality remains largely unaffected by wildfire smoke at this time.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are present in Northeast Tennessee and the East Tennessee Mountains. High minimum relative humidity (RH) is aiding firefighting efforts and keeping the overall fire danger low.

Forecasted Weather: The National Weather Service reports no significant fire weather concerns or Red Flag Warnings for the next 72 hours. While generally dry weather is expected through Monday, minimum relative humidity will remain high (in the 40–50% range). Low to medium rain chances are forecast to return by Tuesday and continue through the end of the week. Winds are expected to remain light and variable, generally blowing under 10 mph.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are advised to stay informed about local drought conditions. While fire danger is currently low, it is crucial to remain cautious with any outdoor burning and to have an emergency plan in place as the state transitions toward the more active fall fire season in October.
Resource Allocation: Firefighters are utilizing this period of low fire activity to train and prepare for the upcoming fall fire season. Agencies continue to monitor the drought monitor and fuel conditions closely to ensure resources are ready for deployment if conditions dry out.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
Tennessee Division of Forestry (Burn Safe TN): www.burnsafetn.org

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.