As of Wednesday, July 31, there are currently 95 large active wildfires which have collectively burned 2,180,105 acres across the United States (US), according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). States experiencing the highest volume of wildfire activity include California, Idaho, and Oregon, with 10 or more active fires across each state. Of these, Oregon is experiencing the bulk of active fires, with 35 currently burning. In California, the Park Fire has grown to more than 386,000 acres since ignition on Wednesday, July 24, making it the largest fire in California so far this year as well as the seventh largest fire in the state’s history. On Sunday, July 28, the Park Fire prompted evacuation warnings in Paradise, California, which was severely impacted in 2018 by the Camp Fire, the state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire to date. As of Monday, July 29, evacuation orders had been lifted. Additionally, communities across the Pacific Northwest are facing Air Quality Indexes (AQIs) ranging from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “very unhealthy” in some areas due to dense smoke from wildfires in the Western US and Canada accumulating over the region.
The latest visible satellite imagery this morning shows a thick layer of smoke over the Intermountain West which is continuing to lead to air quality/visibility impacts. A Pacific trough remains on track to arrive Tue which should allow for some improvement to the smoke. #idwx pic.twitter.com/i7PgJKxy4S
— NWS Pocatello (@NWSPocatello) July 29, 2024
X: National Weather Service (NWS) Pocatello
As of Wednesday, July 31, the Borel and Park fires are actively burning on opposite ends of the state of California, each remaining at less than 35 percent containment and prompting evacuation orders for numerous communities. Across California, over 4,665 wildfires have burned over 763,000 acres of land so far in 2024, surpassing the 2023 and the five-year average year-to-date (YTD) number of wildfires and acres burned, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE).
The Borel fire began on Wednesday, July 24, in Kern County and is reported as part of the 2024 Sequoia National Forest (SQF) Lightning Fires — a cluster of fires that began on Saturday, July 13, and consist of the Trout Fire and Long Fire. The Borel fire grew rapidly, burning more than 53,000 acres in four days and prompting at least 2,300 people to be under evacuation orders on Saturday, July 27. The Borel fire has resulted in significant structural damage, including the destruction of the historic mining town of Havilah, an unincorporated community of approximately 250 people and California historical landmark. As of Wednesday, July 31, over 1,350 personnel are responding to the fire as weather conditions remain under a red-flag-warning — meaning extreme fire danger fueled by a combination of dry vegetation, low humidity, and strong winds. On Saturday, July 27, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure the availability of vital funding and resources to help fight the Borel Fire.
This stunning imagery from @NOAA‘s #GOESWest ️ yesterday shows the explosive growth of California’s #ParkFire, which has now burned more than 164,000 acres. Included are some photos of the massive #wildfire as seen from the ground nearby. pic.twitter.com/PJKNxYfTdG
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) July 26, 2024
X: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Satellites
Additionally, on Wednesday, July 24, the Park Fire ignited in Butte County, located at least 90 miles north of Sacramento. As of Wednesday, July 31, the Park Fire has prompted mandatory evacuations for 17,947 residents and caused the damage or destruction of 295 homes and structures. The fire spans across four counties, Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama, and remains at 18 percent containment, continuing to burn actively as 40 helicopters, 519 engines, and 112 crews work to suppress the fire. On Saturday, July 27, CAL FIRE Law Enforcement officers arrested the man suspected of arson after a burning car was pushed into a gulley in Chico Creek, spreading the flames that began the Park Fire. Favorable weather, including warm, windy, and dry conditions, has rapidly fueled the fire and is expected to increase dangerous fire conditions. Governor Newsom secured additional federal assistance for Tehama County to support the suppression of the Park Fire on Saturday, July 27, after declaring a state of emergency for Butte and Tehama counties on Friday, July 26.
Wildfires are also actively impacting the states of Oregon and Idaho. According to the NIFC, as of Wednesday, July 31, there are 35 active large fires in Oregon and 10 large fires burning in Idaho. The 10 active fires across Idaho have burned over 61,000 acres combined. The largest of these was the Gwen Fire, a series of multiple fire events caused by a lightning storm on Wednesday, July 24, near the City of Lewiston, Idaho. On Friday, July 26, FEMA approved the state’s request for an FMAG — the second FMAG authorized for Idaho wildfires in 2024 — to assist with firefighting costs. The Gwen Fire has burned 28,805 acres, destroying 92 structures and forcing over 2,600 mandatory evacuations, as reported by the FEMA National Watch Center Daily Operations Briefing on Wednesday, July 31.
We’ve posted #wildfire updates to https://t.co/PtcVbF8bt1.
Over 330 firefighters, nearly 100 engines, and 25 water tenders from the Oregon structural fire service are out protecting communities. We’ve brought help in from four states to help. Thank you firefighters! #Oregon pic.twitter.com/JIROlqDQ7H
— Oregon State Fire Marshal (@OSFM) July 23, 2024
X: Oregon State Fire Marshal
In Oregon, firefighters continue to battle the Durkee Fire, the largest active wildfire in the state. The fire has burned 293,882 acres since ignition and is at 52 percent containment as of Wednesday, July 31. The fire started on Wednesday, July 17, following a series of powerful lightning strikes and merged with the nearby Cow Valley Fire, threatening the town of Huntington and its approximately 500 residents. On Saturday, July 20, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act, allowing the State Fire Marshal to use the Oregon Fire Mutual Aid System to support firefighting response efforts. On Monday, July 22, FEMA followed suit by authorizing federal funds through the FMAG — the seventh FMAG issued in 2024 — to aid in Oregon’s wildfire response. The Durkee Fire has prompted 830 mandatory evacuations and caused three injuries, as of Wednesday, July 31.
Canadian Wildfires and Unhealthy Air Quality
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), Canada has experienced a YTD total of 3,878 fires across the country, prompting the agency to set the National Preparedness Level at five, the highest level that indicates significant wildfire activity across multiple jurisdictions and assistance requested from international agencies. The Jasper Fire Complex began on Monday, July 22; a multiple wildfire event that prompted evacuation orders for more than 20,000 people in the town of Jasper and Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada a day later. Officials report that as much as half of the town of Jasper has already been destroyed, including the home of the town’s fire chief, as the flames reached as high as 330 feet and advanced three miles in a 30-minute span.
As of Monday, July 29, the fire had burned over 79,000 acres, and officials anticipate that response efforts may last at least three months. The smoke from the fires prompted Environment Canada to issue an air quality advisory for Calgary over the weekend, urging children and elderly individuals to limit outdoor activity. Air quality alerts have extended into portions of the western United States where wildfire smoke has degraded air quality.
According to AirNow, the biggest health risk of wildfire smoke is from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, a runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles can also aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests the following measures to help protect against wildfire smoke:
- Check your community’s outdoor air quality using the AQI at airnow.gov or on your phone’s weather app;
- Stay inside if authorities advise you to do so;
- Keep smoke outside by designating a room you can close off from outside air, setting up a portable air cleaner or a filter, and avoiding burning anything indoors as much as possible;
- If you must go outside, wear a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) approved respirator to reduce your smoke exposure; and
- Monitor health symptoms, especially if you have asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease, diabetes, or are pregnant. Seek medical help if needed.
Additionally, keep track of fires in or near your area by listening to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio for emergency alerts, and track fires using AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map and NOAA’s Fire Weather Outlook.
Over the coming days and weeks, Hagerty will continue to provide guidance on making effective preparations for long-term recovery, as well as continuing our situational updates.