85 Wildfires Currently Burning in 10 States Across the U.S. — Only 1 Contained

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is the nation’s support center for wildland fires and other emergency situations. The partners at NIFC work together to compile information about the current wildfire situation and statistics that encompass lands managed by federal, state, local, tribal, and private agencies.

To help with wildfire suppression, the NIFC has requested a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) activation of approximately 200 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers. The National Multi-Agency Coordinating Group (NMAC) at NIFC requested the personnel, along with command and support staff, from the DoD. After receiving training, the Soldiers will serve as hand crews, assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in Northern California.

As of Sunday, August 29, 2021, the NIFC is reporting 85 large fires and complexes have burned ~2.5 million acres nationally. Only one of those fires is being reported as contained.

In a state-by-state breakdown: Idaho is reporting 19 wildfires, followed by Montana with 18, Washington State with 15, California with 13, Oregon with 9, Wyoming with 3, Nevada and Minnesota with 2 each, and Colorado and Utah with one each.

To date, 42,423 have burned 4,903,882 acres in the U.S. in 2021. In comparison, last year on August 29, 2020, which was considered at the time a bad wildfire season, a total of 39,613 were reported nationwide and they had consumed 3,952,925 acres.