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 26, 2026 – Initial attack was light with 148 fires reported. 14 new large fires reported and 4 large fires contained.
| Nationwide yesterday | Year to date | 10-yr average |
| Fires: 148 Acres: 39,244 | Fires: 51,295 Acres: 7,920,585 | Fires: 40,323 Acres:4,809,686 (2016 – 2025 as of today) |
| California | Year to date | 5-yr average |
| Fires: 4,731 Acres: 260,043 | Fires: 6,056 Acres: 558,764 |
Regional fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Clover Fire | CA | NEU | 14 | 75% | August 23, 2026 | 20+ | 1 |
| Talbot, Tahoe National Forest | CA | TNF | 93 | 95% | unknown | 385 | 0 |
California fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Timber | CA | LPF | 17,817 | 23% | October 1, 2026 | 1,788 | 1 |
Out of state fires
| Incident Name | State | Lead Agency | Size (acres) | Percent Contained | Estimate of Containment | Personnel | Structures Destroyed |
| Hawk Fire, Nevada | NV | BNOX | 15,067 | 85% | September 1, 2026 | 586 | 38 |
| Bug Fire, Nevada | NV | CCD | 134,424 | 97% | August 25, 2026 | 42 | 16 |
Map information using data provided by the National Interagency Fire Center. The data is subject to change.
Weather Outlook
Isolated to scattered mixed wet/dry thunderstorms are expected from Idaho into western Montana and the northern Great Basin, bringing high-risk significant fire potential to those parts. Breezy westerly winds with gusts 25-35mph amid RH 10-20% and temperatures broadly 10-15°F above normal will develop across the northern half of the West away from the coast, bringing further high-risk significant fire potential to the northern Great Basin, inland Pacific Northwest, and the Sierra Front. In the Greater Four Corners, meager moisture will yield hot temperatures, minimum RH of 10-25%, and isolated mixed wet/dry thunderstorms. Overall moderate fire potential is increasing across this region and inland southern California as the monsoon wanes and overnight RH recovery trends downward. Across the southern Plains, very hot, dry and breezy conditions will continue across east Texas into Louisiana, resulting in a critical conditions. Moderate significant fire potential will persist across remaining parts of the south including southern Florida.