These 20 Counties Have The Most Wildfire Activity Now. Will The Fire Spread?

By Evan Comen  •  August 14, 2025
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As of Thursday, there are three megafires burning throughout the contiguous United States, collectively burning nearly 400,000 acres. Fires are spreading dangerous smoke particles to communities hundreds of miles downwind, raising surface pollution levels far past EPA thresholds for healthy air.

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While the megafires – Dragon Bravo Fire in Coconico County, Arizona; Gifford Fire in Santa Barbara County, California, and the Lee Fire in Rio Blanco County, Colorado – are some of the biggest of the last several years, they account for just about one-fifth of all current wildfire activity in the United States. There are more than 270 wildfires nationwide, amounting to more than two million acres of burning land. Many of the counties are also in severe drought, with dry vegetation and high wind speeds increasing the chance of spread. A closer look at the data reveals the counties with the most wildfire activity right now.

To determine the counties with the most wildfire activity right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current wildfires from the National Interagency Fire Center. Counties were ranked based on the total acreage of active wildfires as of August 13, 2025. Supplemental data on the chance of wildfire spread – the average percentage a one-acre fire will spread to more than 500 acres – are from the U.S. Geological Survey.

20. Denali Borough, AK

Photo by Josh McCausland on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 16,663
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 2 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: Bonnifield Creek
  • County seat: Healy
 

19. San Juan County, UT

Photo by Themis on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 17,724
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 1 fire
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 7.8%
  • Largest fires: Deer Creek
  • County seat: Monticello
 

18. Shasta County, CA

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 19,022
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 1 fire
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 7.7%
  • Largest fires: Green
  • County seat: Redding
 

17. Siskiyou County, CA

Photo by Tom Shamberger on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 22,010
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 2 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 6.7%
  • Largest fires: Butler
  • County seat: Yreka
 

16. Rio Arriba County, NM

Photo by Joanne Francis on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 22,448
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 3 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 4.9%
  • Largest fires: Laguna
  • County seat: Tierra Amarilla
 

15. Mesa County, CO

Photo by Trent Pickering on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 31,535
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 3 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 9.4%
  • Largest fires: Turner Gulch, Sowbelly
  • County seat: Grand Junction
 

14. Gila County, AZ

Photo by Allison Astorga on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 37,857
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 4 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 7.2%
  • Largest fires: Billy, Four Diamond Tank
  • County seat: Globe
 

13. Grant County, NM

Photo by Filippos Sdralias on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 50,986
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 2 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 5.7%
  • Largest fires: Trout, Cholla, Goose
  • County seat: Silver City
 

12. Nye County, NV

Photo by Michael "Tiny" Alcorn (tinyonstage) on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 51,421
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 2 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 25.9%
  • Largest fires: Gothic
  • County seat: Tonopah
 

11. Sevier County, UT

Photo by Jaida Stewart on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 71,884
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 1 fire
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 9.6%
  • Largest fires: Monroe Canyon
  • County seat: Richfield
 

10. Northwest Arctic Borough, AK

Photo by Isaac Mitchell on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 74,269
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 14 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: Anguitakada, Kobuk, Mauneluk
  • County seat: Kotzebue
 

9. Catron County, NM

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 82,067
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 4 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 4.5%
  • Largest fires: Buck, Daisy
  • County seat: Reserve
 

8. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK

Photo by Tommy Tang on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 85,708
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 12 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: 2025 Delta Bison Range RX
 

7. Jefferson County, OR

Photo by Jason Butterfield on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 96,360
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 2 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 13.0%
  • Largest fires: Cram, 0391 Grizzly Flat
  • County seat: Madras
 

6. Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK

Photo by James Pack on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 101,041
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 10 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: Camp, 2025 Creamer's Field RX
  • County seat: Fairbanks
 

5. Elko County, NV

Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 119,431
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 5 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 26.6%
  • Largest fires: Snowstorm
  • County seat: Elko
 

4. Santa Barbara County, CA

Photo by Yifan Ma on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 125,272
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 1 fire
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 6.5%
  • Largest fires: Gifford
  • County seat: Santa Barbara
 

3. Rio Blanco County, CO

Photo by Pramish Khatri on Pexels

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 136,499
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 4 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 9.5%
  • Largest fires: Lee, Crosho, Elk RBX
  • County seat: Meeker
 

2. Coconino County, AZ

Photo by Quintin Gellar on Pexels

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 202,980
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 3 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: 8.7%
  • Largest fires: Dragon Bravo, Sandtrap
  • County seat: Flagstaff
 

1. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

Photo by T Fe on Unsplash

  • Total acreage of active wildfires: 522,058
  • Number of active 1+ acre wildfires: 35 fires
  • Average probability wildfires will spread: N/A
  • Largest fires: Hogatza, Caribou, Turtle
 

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