US National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for March 20

The US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported that 821 fires were reported during the week ending Friday, March 20, with 47 new large incidents and 28 large fires still uncontained.

The National Fire Preparedness Level increased to 2 out of 5.

Most activity is centered in the Southern and Rocky Mountain areas, where seasonal conditions are allowing fires to emerge and spread. One incident management team is currently assigned in the Rocky Mountain Area, supporting ongoing operations.

NIFC also issued its first Fuels and Fire Behavior Advisory of the year, highlighting elevated risk across the central and southern Great Plains, including parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The agency noted that above-normal grass growth, combined with residual and newly cured fuels, has created continuous fuel beds across more than 100 million acres.

Daily Statistics

As of Friday, there are 31 large wildfires or emergency responses ongoing, with 16 contained.

Oklahoma leads with 13 active fires; Florida has 7; Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota each report 2; and Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and South Carolina each report 1.

The updated year-to-date comparison is as follows:

• Year-to-date through March 20, 12,979 wildfires have been reported, burning 1,415,180 acres.
• During the same period last year, 11,912 wildfires were reported, burning 396,631 acres.
• The 10-year average (2015–24) for the same period is 7,951 wildfires and 555,355 acres burned.