April 14, 2023 - Wildfire activity occurred in the Southern, Southwest, Rocky Mountain and Eastern areas with 30 new large fires reported. Wildland firefighters and support personnel are working toward containment goals on 20 large fires in nine states with the most activity reported in Oklahoma.
So far in 2023, 11,246 wildfires have burned 302,755 acres. These numbers are below the 10-year averages of 12,767 wildfires and 584,349 acres burned.
Take a moment to check the Monthly Seasonal Outlook from the National Interagency Coordination Center Predicted Services. Listen to the Monthly Seasonal Outlook briefing podcast for a complete overview of the next four months.
As an upper-level trough exits the West, gusty winds and low relative humidity will lead to critical fire weather conditions and low to moderate significant fire potential from southern New Mexico and southwest Texas through much of the southern High Plains today. Residual dry and breezy conditions are likely in portions of southern Wisconsin as well. Severe weather is likely on the central Plains and in the Carolinas today shifting to the Mississippi Valley tomorrow, with thunderstorms from the Gulf Coast through the Great Lakes. Heavy rain is likely in portions of the Great Lakes and along the central Gulf Coast through the weekend. Lingering dry and breezy conditions, mostly post-frontal, are likely on portions of the southern and central Plains and in the southern Rockies through the weekend. Another upper-level trough will approach the West late this weekend and move over the northern half of the West by mid-next week. Cooler temperatures and precipitation will accompany the trough, but widespread or heavy precipitation is not anticipated except along and west of the Cascades and in portions of the northern Rockies west of the Divide next week. Dry and windy conditions are likely in portions of the Great Basin Sunday spreading to the southern half of the Intermountain West and on the southern and central Plains Monday through Wednesday. Elevated to critical fire weather conditions and moderate to high-risk significant fire potential are expected across portions of these areas, especially in the Southwest and on the Plains, next week. Dry and breezy post-frontal conditions are forecast along and east of the central and southern Appalachians early to mid- next week likely resulting in elevated fire weather conditions and moderate to possibly high-risk significant fire potential.
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
30 | States currently reporting large fires: |
Number of active large fires Total does not include individual fires within complexes. |
20 | |
Acres from active fires | 24,230 | |
Fires contained | 31 |
Year-to-date statistics
2023 (1/1/23-4/14/23) | Fires: 11,246 | Acres: 302,755 |
2022 (1/1/22-4/14/22) | Fires: 0 | Acres: 805,660 |
2021 (1/1/21-4/14/21) | Fires: 14,407 | Acres: 429,087 |
2020 (1/1/20-4/14/20) | Fires: 9,141 | Acres: 200,979 |
2019 (1/1/19-4/14/19) | Fires: 7,967 | Acres: 191,267 |
2018 (1/1/18-4/14/18) | Fires: 14,103 | Acres: 607,164 |
2017 (1/1/17-4/14/17) | Fires: 16,442 | Acres: 2,166,898 |
2016 (1/1/16-4/14/16) | Fires: 12,272 | Acres: 1,381,078 |
2015 (1/1/15-4/14/15) | Fires: 12,172 | Acres: 271,854 |
2014 (1/1/14-4/14/14) | Fires: 14,859 | Acres: 239,907 |
2013 (1/1/13-4/14/13) | Fires: 9,412 | Acres: 120,852 |
2013-2022 | Fires: 12,767 | Acres: 584,349 |
Source: NIFC