BOISE, Idaho — The National Interagency Fire Center reported this week that the United States has already surpassed its 10-year average in total acres burned for this time of year, with nearly 1.85 million acres consumed by fire across 24,222 incidents since January 1.

The sobering statistics — released in NIFC's May 1 National Fire News update — paint a picture of a fire year tracking significantly above historical norms. By comparison, fires burned just under 1 million acres through the same date in 2025, and fewer than 260,000 acres in 2020.

National Preparedness Level 2

As of early May, the National Preparedness Level sat at 2 out of a maximum 5, with the Southern Area — covering the Southeast and Gulf Coast states — elevated to Preparedness Level 4. NIFC reported 20 uncontained large fires burning nationally as of May 1, with nearly 2,400 personnel committed to wildfire response across all active incidents.

Two Complex Incident Management Teams are currently deployed, reflecting the scale of multi-agency coordination already underway just weeks into spring.

Current Large Fires Across the West and Plains

InciWeb's active incident tracker, updated as of May 10-11, lists several significant fires currently burning across the country:

  • Hummingbird Fire (New Mexico): 5,650 acres burning in the Gila National Forest, highlighted by NIFC as an example of how quickly conditions can shift with wind and dry fuels in the Southwest.
  • Hazen Fire (Arizona): 1,191 acres, active in Arizona with crews working containment.
  • East Side Fire (Montana): 1,219 acres burning in the Gallatin National Forest region.
  • Road 203 Fire (Nebraska): 35,892 acres, one of several large Great Plains grassland fires that have driven the elevated national acreage totals.
  • Six Mile Fire (New Mexico): 394 acres, newly reported and under active response.

May Is Wildfire Awareness Month

NIFC designated May as Wildfire Awareness Month, with May 2 having been Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. The agency is urging communities to take action now — creating defensible space, preparing emergency plans, and staying informed — before conditions deteriorate further into summer.

"Fire activity remains steady as we move further into spring, signaling the start of what is already shaping up to be an active fire year," NIFC wrote in its May 1 national update. "Firefighters and support personnel are working together across agencies to respond quickly and keep fires small, but they cannot do it alone."

Looking Ahead

The NIFC seasonal outlook through August calls for above-normal fire potential across much of the West and Northwest, with below-normal precipitation forecast for the region. Energy Release Component values — a measure of fuel dryness — have been tracking above seasonal norms across several Northwest zones, adding to forecaster concerns as summer approaches.