U.S. National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for May 23, 2022

On Monday (5-23-22), the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported that the 2022 wildfire season continues at a pace well in excess of both 2021 and the 10-year average. The NIFC offers this simple comparison as an example:

• From 1/1/22 through 5/23/22, 26,486 wildfires had been reported and they had burned 1,730,311 acres.
• From 1/1/21 through 5/23/21, 22,832 wildfires had been reported and they had burned 615,078 acres.
• The 10-year average (2012–2021) for the same time period was 19,948 wildfires that burned 821,902 acres.

In today’s briefing, the NIFC is reporting that one large new wildfire was reported on Sunday (5-22-22) in Texas. Nationally, there are now 14 large wildfires burning over 536,604 acres in seven states. New Mexico has six large wildfires and Colorado has three. Arkansas, California, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and Texas each have one. Currently, there are 6,332 personnel dedicated to controlling these 14 fires. As of this morning only 5 of the 14 wildfires are being reported as partially contained.