Updated September 6, 2026 · Planning perspective
Wildfire planning depends on location, season and current conditions. A broad national trend cannot substitute for an up-to-date regional outlook or local incident guidance.
Use dated, authoritative sources
The National Interagency Coordination Center publishes significant wildland fire potential outlooks. Check the issue date, region and forecast period when using them for planning. An outlook describes potential; it does not predict the timing or outcome of a specific incident.
Read NIFC's outlooks and archive →
Understand what a detection means
NASA FIRMS provides satellite fire detections. Data availability depends on the product and satellite observation; it is not a continuous view of every fire. Agency reports and local observations provide additional context.
Plan evaluation before promising response
Civilian Aeronautics is developing aircraft concepts and mission software for wildfire response. We welcome discussions about observation needs, software evaluation and future pilot programs. Aircraft performance, availability and operational arrangements must be established for each engagement.