National Preparedness Level: 5 (On a scale from 1 to 5)
Northern California PL: 3
Southern California PL: 3
Smaller, local incidents are listed in the Happening Now section.
Current National Situation:
August 15, 2026 – Initial attack was light with 125 fires reported. 3 new large fires reported and 2 large fires contained.
Two Large Airtankers and one Birddog from Manitoba, Canada have been deployed to Boise, ID in support of wildland fire operations.
| Nationwide yesterday | Year to date | 10-yr average |
| Fires: 125 Acres: 22,694 | Fires: 48,617 Acres: 7,202,974 | Fires: 37,547 Acres: 4,250,682 (2016 – 2025 as of today) |
| California | Year to date | 5-yr average |
| Fires: 4,511 Acres: 251,364 | Fires: 5,816 Acres: 489,745 |
Regional fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Talbot, Tahoe National Forest | CA | TNF | 93 | 75% | unknown | 465 | 0 |
California fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Timber | CA | LPF | 4,655 | 12% | September 1, 2026 | 1,811 | 0 |
Out of state fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Bug/Fred Mt and Stallion | NV | CCD | 134,796 | 84% | August 31, 2026 | 1,111 | 9 |
Map information using data provided by the National Interagency Fire Center. The data is subject to change.
Weather Outlook
Another very hot, dry and windy day is expected to occur over the Southern Plains from eastern Kansas and western Missouri south through Oklahoma into much of Texas. Critical fire weather conditions are anticipated due to high temperatures in the upper 90s to lower 100s with southerly wind gusts of 20-30 mph and relative humidity values ranging from 25-35%. Farther west the monsoon moisture combined with a weak disturbance, tracking northeast off the northern California Coast will trigger additional thunderstorms. The most numerous storms will impact extreme southeast Washington, eastern Oregon and the southern half of Idaho. Isolated thunderstorms will also be possible over the Washington and northern Oregon Cascades and much of the Rockies. The other location which will see a high risk of fire weather concerns will occur over Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands where gusty winds will combine with low relative humidity values and very dry fuels. The last area of concern will be Hawaii due to the approach of Hurricane Lala which will deliver copious amounts of rainfall bringing severe flooding and mudslides especially on the Big Island.