The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is the nation’s support center for wildland fires and other emergency situations. The partners at NIFC work together to compile information about the current wildfire situation and statistics that encompass lands managed by federal, state, local, tribal, and private agencies.
The current wildland fire situation is summarized in the National Fire News and Incident Management Situation Report, produced by the National Interagency Coordination Center. These reports are available daily most of the year, and weekly during the winter months. Wildland fire statistics ranging from the number of fires and acres burned, to federal suppression costs, to the number of lightning-caused fires ignited are updated annually. Maps for current large fires and fire potential outlook maps for the next four months can be easily downloaded.
InciWeb provides up-to-date information on active wildfires across the nation. Large fires on InciWeb have information about the wildfire, news, and announcements, contact information and hours of operation, maps, photographs, and videos. This site is updated regularly and is the best place to find current fire information for ongoing wildfires.
NIFC Hours
Current hours for the NIFC are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm (MST), Monday - Friday.
If you are a member of the media or are seeking specific information about wildfire activity, please call our fire information line at (208) 387-5050.
For all other inquiries please call the main NIFC phone number at (208) 387-5512 and the receptionist will help you.
Current Preparedness Level
National Wildland Fire Preparedness Levels
A Summary of the Nation’s Wildfire Response Stages
The National Multi-Agency Coordination Group (NMAC), composed of wildland fire representatives from each wildland fire agency based at the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), establishes Preparedness Levels throughout the calendar year to ensure suppression resource availability for emerging incidents across the country. Preparedness Levels are dictated by fuel and weather conditions, fire activity, and fire suppression resource availability throughout the country.
The five Preparedness Levels range from the lowest (1) to the highest (5). Each Preparedness Level includes specific management actions and involves increasing levels of interagency resource commitments. As Preparedness Levels rise, so does the need for Incident Management Teams (IMTs) and suppression resources, which include wildland fire crews, engines, helicopters, airtankers and other aircraft, and specialized heavy equipment, such as bulldozers. Many of these resources and teams are Federal and state employees.
How Does NMAC Determine National Preparedness Levels?
Preparedness Level 1 (PL 1)
During this time, fire personnel are able to suppress wildfires in their respective geographic areas without requesting additional wildland fire resources from other areas or from the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC), based at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Fire activity is typically below normal at this level.
Preparedness Level 2 (PL 2)
At this stage, several geographic areas are experiencing high to extreme fire danger, though they are able to manage fire activity without requesting many wildland fire suppression resources from other areas. Few of the country’s IMTs are assigned to wildland fire incidents.
Preparedness Level 3 (PL 3)
This stage typically involves two or more geographic areas requiring significant amounts of wildland fire suppression resources from other areas. At this point, NICC is moving an increased amount of wildland fire suppression resources around the country, including IMTs.
Preparedness Level 4 (PL 4)
This level involves three or more geographic areas experiencing large, complex wildfires requiring IMTs. Geographic areas are competing for wildland fire suppression resources and about 60 percent of the country’s IMTs and wildland firefighting personnel are committed to wildland fire incidents.
Preparedness Level 5 (PL5)
This is the highest level of wildland fire activity. Several geographic areas are experiencing large, complex wildland fire incidents, which have the potential to exhaust national wildland firefighting resources. At least 80 percent of the country’s IMTs and wildland firefighting personnel are committed to wildland fire incidents. At this level, all fire-qualified federal employees become available for wildfire response.
