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September 18, 2024 - Today, 55 large active wildfires are being managed with full suppression strategies nationwide. Current fires have 
burned 2,218,195 acres. 24,750 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to incidents, including 26 complex and 2 type 1 incident management teams, 560 crews, 1,336 engines, and 143 helicopters.
So far in 2024, 37,269 fires have burned 7,330,120 acres nationally. This compares to the 10-year average for this date of 44,647 fires and 5,824,810 acres.
If you know that you live in a fire-prone area, there are steps you can take to prepare for the scary situation of a threat to your community. Work with your neighbors to keep streets and roads clear, so fire engines can easily maneuver, and residents can evacuate swiftly if needed. Make sure fire hydrants are visible and accessible. Clear flammable vegetation around structures, on large lots, and along roadsides. Have an evacuation plan with your household, including what essential items you will take with you and where you will meet. Preparedness for fire emergencies is good citizenship and can also give you some peace of mind.
Note: Given the very high tempo and scale of national fire activity over the past few months, there have been delays in reconciling actual acreage burned with entries into the reporting systems, especially from areas with large fires and dynamic fire activity. Adjustments are occurring as the accuracy of fire locations, mapping, and final fire reporting are reconciled.
An upper-level low is expected to remain along the California coast today, with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms across the northern half of the state into central and western Nevada. Another upper-level low over eastern Montana will continue to bring rain and breezy westerly winds to much of the state. To the south, strong and dry southwesterly downslope winds gusting 40-60 mph are expected across Wyoming into South Dakota, with more moderate downslope winds gusting 30-40 mph along the northern Front Range of Colorado. Minimum relative humidity will fall to near 10% on the Front Range, and 12-25% across eastern Wyoming into South Dakota. Much cooler, but dry and breezy conditions are expected across the Southwest, with drier conditions returning to the Northwest. In the East, scattered showers are likely to continue in the central Appalachians to the East Coast with higher relative humidity, and isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected across portions of the eastern Plains. It will remain dry for the Great Lakes, northern New England, and Lower Ohio Valley, with above normal temperatures, but minimum relative humidity will moderate slightly, remaining above 25%.
| Number of new large fires or emergency response * New fires are identified with an asterisk |
1 | States currently reporting large fires: |
| Total number of active large fires | 55 | |
| Acres from active fires | 2,218,195 | |
| Fires contained | 1 |
Year-to-date statistics
| 2024 (1/1/24-9/18/24) | Fires: 37,269 | Acres: 7,330,120 |
| 2023 (1/1/23-9/18/23) | Fires: 43,085 | Acres: 2,192,903 |
| 2022 (1/1/22-9/18/22) | Fires: 51,169 | Acres: 6,789,438 |
| 2021 (1/1/21-9/18/21) | Fires: 45,056 | Acres: 5,628,846 |
| 2020 (1/1/20-9/18/20) | Fires: 42,866 | Acres: 7,236,139 |
| 2019 (1/1/19-9/18/19) | Fires: 37,715 | Acres: 4,343,105 |
| 2018 (1/1/18-9/18/18) | Fires: 48,177 | Acres: 7,310,798 |
| 2017 (1/1/17-9/18/17) | Fires: 49,840 | Acres: 8,530,183 |
| 2016 (1/1/16-9/18/16) | Fires: 43,511 | Acres: 4,798,163 |
| 2015 (1/1/15-9/18/15) | Fires: 46,552 | Acres: 8,826,623 |
| 2014 (1/1/14-9/18/14) | Fires: 39,851 | Acres: 2,954,749 |
10-year average Year-to-Date
| 2014-2023 | Fires: 44,647 | Acres: 5,824,810 |
Source: NIFC
