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Fire

Drought can be a contributing factor to wildfire. Dry, hot, and windy weather combined with dried out (and more flammable) vegetation can increase the probability of large-scale wildfires.

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    • Drought and Wildfire

    A forest fire burning

    The relationship between drought and fire is complex. The timing, intensity, and frequency of drought events have divergent impacts on fuel flammability and fire behavior. Rapidly drying abundant fuels in forest understories and grasslands after a wet spring can feed larger fires. Prolonged drought can limit fire occurrence as the availability of fuels (e.g., grasses) is reduced due to lack of precipitation.

    Data, Maps, and Tools

    Temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability (vegetation) are all factors that interact to influence the frequency of large wildfires. Drought is one of many factors that can affect the intensity and severity of a fire.

    Current Fire Conditions
    Active Wildfires One-Day Fire Outlook

    This map shows U.S. active wildfires alongside current drought conditions from the U.S. Drought Monitor. According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, active wildfires also include fires that have been 100% contained (i.e., a control line has been completed around the fire, stopping the fire's spread) but that have not been fully extinguished. Learn more.

    The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center produces daily fire weather outlooks, which delineate areas of the continental U.S. where pre-existing fuel conditions, combined with forecast weather conditions, will result in a significant threat for the ignition and/or spread of wildfires. This map shows the 1-day fire weather outlook. Learn more.

    Active Wildfires

    The color with the hex code #76349a identifies:
    Active Fire

    U.S. Drought Monitor

    The color with the hex code #ffff00 identifies:
    D0
    The color with the hex code #ffcc99 identifies:
    D1
    The color with the hex code #ff6600 identifies:
    D2
    The color with the hex code #ff0000 identifies:
    D3
    The color with the hex code #660000 identifies:
    D4

    Forecast Risk of Fire Weather

    The color with the hex code #ffb67b identifies:
    Elevated
    The color with the hex code #fe7677 identifies:
    Critical
    The color with the hex code #fe7afb identifies:
    Extremely Critical
    The color with the hex code #bd9989 identifies:
    Isolated Dry Thunderstorms
    The color with the hex code #fe7576 identifies:
    Scattered (Critical) Dry Thunderstorms
    Source(s):

    National Wildfire Coordinating Group, U.S. Drought Monitor
    Source(s):

    NWS Storm Prediction Center
    Updates Daily  -  03/03/21
    Updates Daily  -  03/03/21
    Learn more about these data
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    Data and Map Gallery

    View information on current and predicted outlooks for fire risk, potential, and occurrence, as well as specific fire-related drought indices and impact reports.

    U.S. map showing active large fire incidents

    USFS Active Fire Map

    The USFS Active Fire Mapping Program is an operational, satellite-based fire detection and monitoring program that provides near real-time detection and characterization of wildland fire conditions

    Period of Record
    Current Conditions
    File Format
    images
    pdf
    kml
    Example National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook map of the U.S.

    National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

    The National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook is intended as a decision support tool for wildland fire managers, pr

    Period of Record
    2002 - Present
    File Format
    images
    pdf
    Map of Western U.S. showing MODIS active fire detections

    USFS Fire Detection Maps

    The USFS Active Fire Mapping program provides near real-time detection and characterization of wildland fire conditions in a geospatial context for the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and

    Period of Record
    Current Conditions
    File Format
    images
    pdf
    NOAA fire and smoke data example image

    NOAA Fire and Smoke Products

    A selection of NOAA fire and smoke products.

    Period of Record
    Current Conditions, Historical data (period of record varies)
    File Format
    images
    other
    National Weather Service Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook

    National Weather Service Fire Weather Outlooks

    The National Weather Service's Fire Weather Outlooks are intended to delineate areas of the continental U.S.

    Period of Record
    2006 - Present
    File Format
    images
    FRAMES logo

    Fire Research And Management Exchange (FRAMES)

    Fire Research And Management Exchange System (FRAMES) provides a method of exchanging information and transferring technology among wildland fire researchers, managers, and other stakeholders in an

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    Impacts and Related Content

    Exacerbation of Wildfire Conditions

    Drought impacts can result in an increased volume and availability of live and dead fuels, increasing the probability of large-scale wildfires.

    Drought in a Changing Climate

    Drought, along with warming temperatures, can result in decreased snowpack and streamflow and increased evaporative demand, leading to an increased wildfire risk.

    By Sector | Wildfire Management

    Wildfire risk can be reduced in some regions by thinning, using prescribed burns, and letting some fires burn if they will not affect people. Learn more about drought impacts on the wildfire management sector.

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    Fire Research and Resources