Emergency Extension: Government Prolongs State of Emergency for Additional 48 Hours Due to Ongoing Blaze
The Western United States is currently grappling with a significant wildfire crisis, with over 49 large uncontained blazes burning across the country as of Thursday, August 21, 2025. The situation is particularly dire in the Northern Rockies and northern Great Basin regions, where fire activity has escalated significantly.
Nearly 15,400 firefighters and support personnel are actively engaged in firefighting efforts nationwide. In Arizona, notable fires include the Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon, which has burned over 12,728 acres with only 8% containment. Other active fires in the state include the White Sage Fire near Fredonia and a 578-acre lightning-caused fire north of Payson. Due to ongoing fire threats, some areas, such as the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, have been closed.
Luís Montenegro has announced a state of alert, which will remain in effect until 23:59 on Friday, as hot and dry conditions are expected to persist. Forecasts indicate that hot temperatures and dry lightning storms will sweep across much of the Intermountain West and California on Friday, 22nd August, 2025. This weather pattern is likely to increase the risk of new fire starts and intensify existing fires.
These hot and dry conditions are consistent with the ongoing drought affecting much of the Western U.S., which makes fuels more receptive to burning and wildfires more severe. Residents in impacted zones are urged to remain vigilant and follow local fire information and evacuation orders if issued.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.
Social scientists are investigating the psychological impact of the ongoing climate-change-induced wildfire crisis in the Western United States on its residents. The ongoing drought, resulting in hot and dry conditions, has made environmental-science predictions about increasing wildfire activity in the region increasingly relevant.
