The 10 States With The Most Wildfire Activity Now

By Evan Comen  •  August 15, 2025
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As of Thursday, the Dragon Bravo Fire in Grand Canyon National Park reached 144,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire of 2025. While the blaze is 44% contained, two other fires – the Gifford Fire in Santa Barbara County, California and the Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County, Colorado – have also reached megafire status.

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While the megafires are collectively burning nearly 400,000 acres, the three blazes account for just about one-fifth of total wildfire activity in the United States. Wildfires are largely concentrated in the West, and are causing dangerous degradations in air quality. In 10 states, there are more than 25,000 acres of land currently burning from wildfires. Many of the states with active wildfires have high probability of spread, due to dry vegetation and high wind speeds, prompting the National Weather Service to issue dozens of fire weather and red flag warnings. A closer look at the data reveals the 10 states with the most wildfire activity.

To determine the states with the most wildfire activity, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current wildfire activity from the National Interagency Fire Center. States were ranked based on the total acreage of active wildfires as of August 15, 2025. Supplemental data on the chance fire spread – the average percentage probability of a one-acre fire growing to 500 acres – is from the U.S. Geological Survey.

10. Idaho

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 26,617
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 16 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 20.5%
  • Largest fires: Big Bear (Idaho County), Rush (Valley County), Lightning Creek (Bonner County)
 

9. Washington

Photo by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 39,553
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 22 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 11.5%
  • Largest fires: Burdoin (Klickitat County), Hope (Stevens County), Bear Gulch (Mason County)
 

8. Oregon

Photo by everett mcintire on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 102,836
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 15 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 11.9%
  • Largest fires: Cram (Jefferson County), Elk (Klamath County), Butte Creek (Wasco County)
 

7. Utah

Photo by John Bewlay on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 110,108
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 5 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 13.4%
  • Largest fires: Monroe Canyon (Sevier County), Deer Creek (San Juan County), Forsyth (Washington County)
 

6. New Mexico

Photo by Jeffrey Keenan on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 156,764
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 11 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 6.4%
  • Largest fires: Buck (Catron County), Trout (Grant County), Turkeyfeather (Catron County)
 

5. Nevada

Photo by Abhi Verma on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 170,852
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 7 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 24.4%
  • Largest fires: Jakes (Elko County), Gothic (Nye County), Snowstorm (Elko County)
 

4. California

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 180,168
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 23 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 7.7%
  • Largest fires: Gifford (Santa Barbara County), Butler (Siskiyou County), Green (Shasta County)
 

3. Colorado

Photo by Jeff Heaton on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 184,998
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 19 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 9.1%
  • Largest fires: Lee (Rio Blanco County), Turner Gulch (Mesa County), Elk Rbx (Rio Blanco County)
 

2. Arizona

Photo by Robert Murray on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 243,525
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 16 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 8.8%
  • Largest fires: Dragon Bravo (Coconino County), White Sage (Coconino County), Bronco (Gila County)
 

1. Alaska

Photo by Jacki Drexler on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 802,498
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 75 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: Klikhtentotzna (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area), Moldy (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area), Christian (Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area)