US National Interagency Fire Center Wildfire Update for the Week Ending March 29th

The US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) reported that as of Friday, March 29th, 10 uncontained large wildfires were reported during the week. The fires are confined to 5 states and have burned 22,372 acres. The National Preparedness Level remains at a 1 out of 5.

Since January 1st, more than 3,400 wildfires were caused by people, the NIFC highlighted. These wildfires burned about 1.6 million acres. In comparison, 10 wildfires were ignited by lightning and account for about 388 acres.

The number of large new fires or emergency responses during the week was 35. The number of active large fires (not including individual fires within complexes) stands at 10. The total number of fires contained stands at 41.

The states with active large fires are West Virginia with 4; Virginia with 3; and Oklahoma, Georgia, and Kentucky with 1 each.

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

• Year-to-date through March 29th, 5,260 wildfires were reported, and they have burned 1,659,645 acres.
• During the same period last year, 7,672 wildfires were reported, and they had burned 113,975 acres.
• The 10-year average (2014–23) for the same period is 5,260 fires and 474,563 acres burned. The above-average number of acres is due to the wildfires in Texas in late February.

A fuels and fire behavior advisory is still in effect for Northwest Texas, western Oklahoma, southwest Kansas, southeastern Colorado, and far eastern New Mexico. Wildland fire personnel should expect extreme to unprecedented fire growth and intensity in these areas, the NIFC said.