US National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for October 11th: 2 of 64 Contained

The US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported on Tuesday (10-11-22) that the total number of large wildfires and complexes currently burning in the US dropped from 72 last Monday to 64, with more than 708,917 acres currently burning across 7 different states. Four new wildfires have been reported within the past 24-hours.

There are now more than 4,100 wildland fire personnel assigned to these incidents across the US. The NIFC National Fire Preparedness Level remains at a Level 2 out of a possible 5, as the wildfire season continues to wind down.

Most of the wildfire activity is now located in the state of Idaho, where there are currently 31 wildfires burning. Elsewhere, there are 22 wildfires burning in Montana, 4 in Oklahoma, 3 in Washington State, 2 in Oregon, and 1 each in California and Missouri. Of the 64 wildfires currently burning, only 2 have been partially contained.

The current number of wildfires continues to exceed the 2021 level, which up until now held the record high, and is more than double the 10-year average. Here is the updated comparison:

• From 1/1/22 through 10/11/22, 55,612 wildfires have been reported and they have burned 6,934,664 acres.
• From 1/1/21 through 10/11/21, 47,247 wildfires had been reported and they had burned 6,469,670 acres.
• The 10-year average (2012–21) for the same period is 46,604 wildfires having consumed 6,578,787 acres.

NIFC meteorologists continue to report that conditions remain favorable for additional outbreaks over the next week. West to southwest sustained winds of 12-25 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph amid relative humidity of 10-20% will develop this afternoon ahead of a cold front, creating elevated/critical conditions from the Front Range into the central Plains. Gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity will extend into portions of western Iowa and southern Minnesota as well. Breezy west to northwest winds will also occur across portions of the northern Great Basin, western Wyoming, and West Slope. Low relative humidity of 18-30% will continue along the Lower Mississippi Valley. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, some severe, are likely to develop well ahead of the cold front across eastern Kansas through the Mid and Upper Mississippi Valley into the Great Lakes. Isolated showers are possible behind the cold front in eastern Montana, while isolated afternoon thunderstorms are likely over the transverse and peninsular ranges of southern California. Isolated thunderstorms are possible across far south Texas and portions of the Florida peninsula.