US National Wildfire Preparedness Level Elevated to 3

The National Interagency Fire Center has raised the US preparedness level to 3, signaling significant wildfire activity and high fire potential nationwide. Currently, 27 large uncontained fires are burning, involving nearly 5,000 personnel, with new blazes emerging in several western states. Hot and dry weather conditions are expected to persist across the western third of the country, indicating ongoing challenges for fire suppression efforts.