National Interagency Fire Center

10/14/2026

The national preparedness level dropped to PL1 today at 7:30 a.m. MDT due to these factors:

🔥Geographic areas can accomplish incident management objectives utilizing local resources with little or no national support. There is little risk of drawing down capability in any geographic area to support incident operations.
🔥Conditions are not favorable to support significant wildland fire activity in most geographic areas.
🔥Resource capability is adequate with little or no mobilization of resources occurring through NICC.
🔥Potential for emerging significant wildland fires is expected to remain minimal.

10/09/2026

Apply to join us at NIFC in the U.S. Wildland Fire Service's Fleet and Equipment Management Division!

Details below. ⬇⬇⬇

Join our Fleet and Equipment Management Division!

We’re hiring for two Branch Chief positions in Boise, Idaho, at the National Interagency Fire Center.

Branch Chief, National Fire Fleet Management:
Lead efforts to plan, support and replace critical wildland fire fleet resources. This role requires strong leadership, problem-solving and strategic planning skills.

Branch Chief, Fire Equipment Development:
Help shape the future of mobile fire equipment, ensuring firefighters have the tools they need to safely and effectively accomplish the mission. This role requires a strong vision for the future and an understanding of firefighter needs.

Both positions are open through Oct. 21.

Find the full details and apply:
National Fire Fleet Management: www.usajobs.gov/job/887843600
Fire Equipment Development: www.usajobs.gov/job/887844000

10/09/2026

National Fire News: October 9, 2026. Firefighters are currently working to contain 8 large fires across the country. There are 3,123 firefighters and support personnel assigned to incidents, including 41 crews, 98 engines, and 30 helicopters. Fires are reported in the Southern California, Great Basin, Northwest, and Southern geographic areas.

Year-to-date, 63,681 fires have burned more than 9 million acres, 134% of the 10-year average number of fires and 145% of the average acres burned for this date.

Hurricane Isaias is approaching the Gulf Coast, bringing the potential for dangerous storm surge, damaging winds and flooding. If you're in the affected area, monitor local alerts, follow evacuation orders and avoid flooded roads. 🚨 https://www.fema.gov/blog/get-ready-hurricane-isaias

Fall is no time to let your guard down on fire safety. If you're heading out to recreate, check local fire restrictions, secure your trailer chains and make sure campfires are completely extinguished before leaving.

🔥More NFN: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn



📸 Bouquet Fire, California. Photo from InciWeb.

10/08/2026

Prescribed fire is in action across the country as conditions allow. It’s proactive work that can help protect communities, give firefighters more options and keep landscapes healthy and resilient.

10/05/2026

If you fly, we can’t!

There have been 82 reported drone incursions to date in 2026.

When a drone flies near a wildfire, firefighting aircraft may be forced to shut down operations, delaying suppression efforts, disrupting aviation support for firefighters on the ground and giving the wildfire an opportunity to grow.

Know before you fly. ➡ https://knowbeforeyoufly.org/compliance-and-safety/avoid-wildfires/

10/02/2026

National Fire News: October 2, 2026. Firefighters are currently working to contain 11 large fires across the country. There are 4,093 firefighters and support personnel assigned to incidents, including 65 crews, 119 engines, and 26 helicopters. Fires are reported in the Southern California, Northwest, and Southern geographic areas.

Year-to-date, 62,738 fires have burned more than 9 million acres, 135% of the 10-year average number of fires and 147% of the average acres burned for this date.

The National Interagency Coordination Center's Predictive Services office has released new significant wildland fire potential outlooks for October 2026 through January 2027, indicating that at according to current forecasts, significant fire potential is expected to linger longest in the Southern geographic area (between eastern Texas and Kentucky) and Puerto Rico. Explore these and other products on the NICC Outlooks page: https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive-services/outlooks

🔥 More NFN: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

10/01/2026

Here's a look at the National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for October 2026 through January 2027. 🔥

Fire activity diminished quickly during September, with only California and the Southern Area remaining moderately active at the end of the month. As a result of the rapidly diminishing fire activity, the National Preparedness Level dropped from five to four (on a scale of 1-5) September 4, to three September 9, and two September 22.

As of September 30, 8,604,892 acres have burned across the country, which is 141% of the previous 10-year average. So far this year 62,369 wildfires have been reported, also above average, at 134%.

➡ Read the full outlook:https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

10/01/2026

10/01/2026

We are proud to see Sam Scranton, who worked here at the National Interagency Fire Center for many years, honored for his work in fire prevention!

In this era of challenging firefighting, fire prevention is more important than ever. The Gold Smokey Bear Award, given to organizations, teams, or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service, is the highest of honors in this critical field of work. A 2026 recipient of the Gold Smokey Bear Award is Sam Scranton, Deputy Director of Fuels Management for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Sam led the development of the Wildfire Prevention and Spatial Assessment and Planning Strategies (WPSAPS), a risk assessment tool that provides users with research-informed prevention actions based on a geospatial assessment of risks, hazards, and values. This modernized tool has reduced wildfire starts by as much as 20 percent on BIA lands. WPSAPS has now been implemented in several federal agencies and tribes and has potential for even greater wildfire prevention.

Join us in congratulating Sam on this honor and thanking him for his service in fire prevention!

09/29/2026

Pilots Greg King and Ryan Cutter, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash on September 20, are on their way home today. The wildland fire community stands together as we grieve this loss.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the firefighter and aviation communities mourning the loss of pilots Greg King and Ryan Cutter, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash while working on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park in California on September 20, 2026.

As they return home today — Cutter to Utah and King to Alaska — we stand in solidarity with our partners in the Alaska DNR - Division of Forestry & Fire Protection - DFFP, with whom King shares a close and enduring connection. As a pilot working on wildfires in Alaska, his impact on the Alaska firefighting community will not be forgotten.

To all who are grieving across Alaska and beyond, please know we stand with you. We honor these pilots’ sacrifice and remain united in our commitment to the mission they served with such distinction.