Hot and dry weather in July 2024 has set the stage for numerous wildfires across the Northwest U.S., some of which are growing rapidly as of July 16.

Track current wildfire perimeters, hot spots, and wildfire info using OpenSnow's Active Fires Map. Wildfire perimeters and fire info are available for the U.S. and Canada, while satellite-detected hot spots are available globally.

New to OpenSnow?

⤵⤵⤵⤵⤵

Start Free Trial

No credit card required.

⤴⤴⤴⤴⤴

How to View the Active Fires Map

1. Tap the "Maps" tab.
2. Tap the overlay button.
3. Tap the Active Fires map.
4. Scrub the bottom slider.

Also, we recently added a 3D Maps feature, which offers a great way to visualize fire perimeters over terrain.

How to View the Active Fires Map (and Other Maps) in 3D:

Mobile

1. Tap the "3D" button on the "Maps" tab.
2. Increase or decrease the tilt by using two fingers and moving up or down.
3. Rotate the map in any direction by using two fingers.
4. Tap the direction icon to reset the map to point north.

Desktop

1. Click the "3D" button on the "Maps" tab.
2. Increase or decrease the tilt by holding the "Control" key and your mouse/trackpad button while moving your cursor up or down.
3. Rotate the map in any direction by holding the "Control" key and your mouse/trackpad button while moving your cursor from side to side.
4. Tap the direction icon to reset the map to point north.

Next, let's take a look at some of the active wildfires ongoing across the Northwest U.S. with 3D Map views.

Falls Fire (Oregon)

This human-caused fire was first discovered on July 10 and has burned 64,225 acres as of early morning on July 16. The fire is burning timber and tall grass and has exhibited extreme behavior with wind-driven runs. The fire is 0% contained as of July 16.

Cow Valley Fire (Oregon)

This fire was first discovered on July 11 and has burned 132,530 acres as of early morning on July 16. The fire is primarily burning tall grass and brush and has exhibited active behavior with wind-driven runs. The fire is 5% contained as of July 16 and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Rv Lone Rock Fire (Oregon)

This fire was first discovered on July 13 and has burned 30,000 acres as of late evening on July 15. The fire is primarily burning tall grass and brush and has exhibited extreme behavior with wind-driven runs. The fire is 1% contained as of July 15 and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Pioneer Fire (Washington)

This fire, located near North Cascades National Park, was first discovered on July 8 and has burned 18,731 acres as of early morning on July 16. The fire is primarily burning timber and has exhibited active behavior with uphill runs. The fire is 14% contained as of July 16 and the cause of the fire is unknown. 

Bench Lake Fire (Idaho)

This fire, located in the popular Redfish Lake area of the Sawtooth Range, was first discovered on July 11 and has burned 677 acres as of early morning on July 16. The fire is primarily burning timber and has exhibited active behavior. It is currently threatening the Redfish Lake Lodge and nearby campsites and trails. The fire is 0% contained as of July 16 and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Horse Gulch Fire (Montana)

This human-caused fire, located near Helena, was first discovered on July 9 and has burned 12,917 acres as of early morning on July 16. The fire is burning timber and brush and has exhibited active behavior. The fire is 10% contained as of July 16.

Miller Peak Fire (Montana)

This fire, located near Missoula, was first discovered just recently on July 14 and has burned 1,670 acres as of late evening on July 15. The fire is burning timber and has exhibited active behavior. The fire is 0% contained as of July 15 and the cause of the fire is unknown.

Smoke and Air Quality

Smoke from these wildfires is also impacting portions of the Interior West this week. Be sure to stay on top of the air quality situation and smoke forecast for your location by using the following maps...

Air Quality Real-Time Map

Use this map to view the current PM 2.5 air quality index from PurpleAir sensors. Shown as the 10-minute average for the past 24 hours and available worldwide.

View → Air Quality Real-Time

Smoke Hi-Res (surface) Map

Use this map to track smoke for the next 2 days near the ground where it can impact breathing. Updated every hour and available for the continental United States.

View → Smoke Hi-Res (surface)

Smoke Hi-Res (sky) Map

Use this map to track smoke for the next 2 days in the sky where it can impact visibility. Updated every hour and available for the continental United States.

View → Smoke Hi-Res (sky)

Air Quality Forecast Map

Use this map to view the likely location of smoke and other pollutants for the next 5 days. Updated 4 times per day and available worldwide.

View → Air Quality Forecast

---

Questions? Send an email to [email protected] and we'll respond within 24 hours. You can also visit our Support Center to view frequently asked questions and feature guides.

Alan Smith