April 22, 2023 - Wildfire activity was reported in several states in the Southern, Eastern, Southwest and Rocky Mountain areas. This week, 54 new large fires were reported. Wildland firefighters and support personnel continue to work toward containment goals on 20 large fires that have burned 14,812 acres in 11 states.
To date 11,910 wildfires have burned 351,821 acres in the United States. These numbers are below the 10-year averages of 14,380 wildfires and 699,967 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.
Elevated to critical fire weather conditions due to dry and windy weather are likely in much of New Mexico and on portions of the central Plains today into Saturday. As an upper-level trough approaches and moves through the West, dry and windy conditions are expected across western and southern portions of the Great Basin, much of the Southwest, and onto the southern High Plains early to mid-next week. Pre-frontal dry and potentially breezy conditions are likely across portions of the southern and central Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic today, but scattered to widespread rainfall is likely across much of the Appalachians and East Coast today into Sunday. Post-frontal dry and breezy conditions are expected in portions of the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic this weekend and early next week. Scattered precipitation is expected across the West this weekend through early next week, with higher totals in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains. Precipitation coverage and totals are likely to be less in California, the western and southern Great Basin, and the Southwest. A warming and drying trend is expected across the West Coast by late next week. As the trough moves through the West and towards the southern Plains and Southeast, widespread and potentially heavy rainfall is likely from Kansas through central and east Texas extending through the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Southeast late this weekend through mid-next week.
Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
54 | States currently reporting large fires: |
Number of active large fires Total does not include individual fires within complexes. |
20 | |
Acres from active fires | 14,812 | |
Fires contained | 51 |
Year-to-date statistics
2023 (1/1/23-4/21/23) | Fires: 11,910 | Acres: 351,821 |
2022 (1/1/22-4/21/22) | Fires: 7,239 | Acres: 834,238 |
2021 (1/1/21-4/21/21) | Fires: 15,971 | Acres: 438,525 |
2020 (1/1/20-4/21/20) | Fires: 10,532 | Acres: 213,574 |
2019 (1/1/19-4/21/19) | Fires: 8,643 | Acres: 213,364 |
2018 (1/1/18-4/21/18) | Fires: 15,563 | Acres: 887,169 |
2017 (1/1/17-4/21/17) | Fires: 17,659 | Acres: 2,293,561 |
2016 (1/1/16-4/21/16) | Fires: 14,321 | Acres: 1,412,141 |
2015 (1/1/15-4/21/15) | Fires: 13,755 | Acres: 302,501 |
2014 (1/1/14-4/21/14) | Fires: 16,710 | Acres: 270,394 |
2013 (1/1/13-4/21/13) | Fires: 10,639 | Acres: 134,202 |
10-year average Year-to-Date
2013-2022 | Fires: 14,380 | Acres: 699,967 |
Source: NIFC