You’re staring at a screen full of red dots. It’s scary. If you live in Arizona or you’re planning a road trip through the High Country, seeing a "fires in AZ map" lit up like a Christmas tree can make your stomach drop. But here’s the thing: most people read these maps all wrong. They see a flame icon and think the whole state is an ash tray.
Honestly? It's usually more nuanced than that. Right now, in mid-January 2026, the "fire" you’re seeing on a map might actually be a good thing. Or it might be a ghost of a fire that went out three days ago. Let's get into what’s actually happening on the ground and how to tell if you should actually be packing your "go bag."
Reading the Fires in AZ Map Like a Pro
If you pull up the Wildland Fire Situation map or InciWeb, you’ll see icons. Lots of them. But in the winter months, these aren't usually the raging monsters of June.
Take the Pedestal Rocks RX or the Turkey Hollow operations happening right now. Those "RX" labels are everything. They stand for Prescribed Fire. Basically, the Forest Service and the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) are out there intentionally lighting matches. Why? Because the Arizona landscape evolved with fire. Without it, the brush gets too thick. Then, come July, one lightning strike turns the whole forest into a furnace.
So, when you see a cluster of points on the map near Coconino or the Kaibab National Forest this week, don't panic. Look for the "Prescribed" tag.
Real-Time Tools vs. Stale Data
You've probably noticed that some maps look different than others.
- InciWeb: This is the gold standard for "Big Ones." If a fire has a name and an Incident Management Team, it’s here.
- FIRMS (NASA): This uses satellite heat detection (MODIS and VIIRS). It’s fast. Like, "detected from space two hours ago" fast. But it's also sensitive. It can pick up a large chimney or a very hot parking lot sometimes.
- AZ511: If you’re traveling, this is actually more important than the fire map itself. It tells you if the smoke is so thick they've shut down the I-17.
The Current State of Arizona's Burn (January 2026)
We aren't in the "Big Burn" yet.
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Currently, the National Preparedness Level is at a 1. That’s the lowest it goes. It means we have plenty of firefighters sitting in stations ready to roll, but they aren't exactly overwhelmed. Most of the action on your fires in AZ map today is pile burning. Agencies like the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) are busy cleaning up the "roadside" risks.
They’ve been tracking roadside starts closely. Did you know a huge chunk of our fires start because of dragging trailer chains? One spark on the side of the 101 or the I-10 can ignite the dry grass in seconds. Even in January, if we haven't had a good snow lately, that grass is like tinder.
Why the Map Looks "Busy" in Winter
There are dozens of active VIIRS alerts across the state right now. Most are in Coconino and Maricopa counties. But again, look at the context. We're seeing "District Piles" and "Northside Piles" near Flagstaff. These are controlled. If you see a map showing 50+ alerts, check the "confidence" level. Usually, only about 2% of those are actually high-confidence wildfires this time of year.
What's Coming: The 2026 Outlook
We're currently dealing with a weak La Niña. For Arizona, that usually means a drier winter.
If the snowpack in the White Mountains and the Mogollon Rim stays thin, the 2026 fire season could start early. Usually, the peak starts in late April and runs for about 14 weeks until the monsoons (hopefully) show up. If you're looking at a map in May, those red dots are a much different story than they are today.
Notable 2025 Carry-Overs
Remember the Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon? Or the White Sage Fire near Fredonia? Those were massive—over 50,000 acres each. While they are "contained," you might still see them on historical layers of your map. Some maps show a "5-Year History" layer. Turn that off if you want to see what's actually burning today. It’s easy to get confused by old perimeters.
Actionable Steps for Residents and Travelers
Don't just stare at the map and worry. Do these three things instead:
- Check the "Type" First: If you see a new dot on the fires in AZ map, click it. If it says "Prescribed" or "RX," you’re likely just going to see some hazy sunsets. If it says "Wildfire" and "0% Contained," that’s when you start checking local sheriff's pages.
- Sign up for "Ready, Set, Go": Every Arizona county has an emergency alert system. Maps tell you where the fire is; these alerts tell you where you should be.
- Watch the Air Quality: Sometimes the fire is 50 miles away but the smoke is in your living room. Use the AirNow app or map. It’s often more relevant to your daily health than the fire perimeter itself.
Arizona is a fire-adapted state. The goal isn't to have zero dots on the map—that’s actually dangerous for the forest long-term. The goal is to have the right kind of dots. Keep an eye on the Southwest Coordination Center (SWCC) morning reports if you want the real, unvarnished data that the pros use.
Stay safe, watch the wind, and keep your trailer chains off the pavement.