Wildphyres Roundup 28 Jul 2025
Here’s a look at the major wildfires burning as of July 28, 2025:
🔥 Wildfires in the United States
- Madre Fire (San Luis Obispo County, California)
Started on July 2, now grown to roughly 80,800 acres, containment at ~97%—currently the largest active wildfire in California (Facebook, Wikipedia). - Dragon Bravo Fire (Grand Canyon North Rim, Arizona)
Ignited July 4, has burned over 13,660 acres, ~18% contained—destroyed 80+ structures including historic Grand Canyon Lodge; North Rim closed for 2025 season (Wikipedia). - White Sage Fire (Kaibab National Forest, Arizona)
Began July 9, currently burned approximately 58,600 acres, ~27% contained; evacuations and route closures reported (Wikipedia). - Forsyth Fire (Pine Valley area, Washington County, Utah)
Started early June; as of mid‑July ~15,677 acres, ~83% contained; destroyed structures and displaced residents (Wikipedia). - Monroe Canyon Fire (Central Utah)
Rapid growth reported since July 25, having doubled in size; still largely uncontrolled due to dry, windy weather (The Lookout). - Burdoin Fire (Columbia River Gorge, Washington/Oregon)
Burning near Lyle, WA; ~11,000+ acres, 54% contained; 19 homes destroyed, 47 damaged; evacuation orders downgraded (opb). - Elkhorn and Rim Road Fires (La Plata County, Colorado)
Elkhorn Fire: ~344 acres, 0% contained, triggered evacuation of ~41 homes
Rim Road Fire: ~114 acres, evacuation orders lifted (Colorado Public Radio).
🌍 Major International Fires
- Turkey & Southeastern Europe
As of July 28, Turkey is battling 44+ wildfires (locations include Bursa, Karabuk, Antalya, Mersin, Eskisehir), with a death toll of at least 17. Over 3,500 people evacuated; growing concerns over arson, and flights/major destinations remain operating but local authorities urge caution (AP News). - Portugal
Fighting three large wildfires in central and northern regions (notably Arouca and Peneda-Geres), prompting evacuations and trail closures; over 1,300 firefighters deployed with aerial support (Reuters). - Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Montenegro
Multiple fires raging across southern Europe, including major blazes near Athens and Crete triggering evacuations. EU partners providing aerial assistance (AP News).
📊 U.S. Wildfire Season Overview (as of mid‑July)
- Since January 1: ~39,441 wildfires burned almost 3 million acres, exceeding 10-year norms in both fire count and area (Facebook).
- California has recorded over 4,195 wildfires in 2025, totaling ~201,295 acres burned; structural loss exceeding 16,333 buildings and ~30 fatalities (Center for Disaster Philanthropy).
- Nearly 93% of U.S. wildfires are human-caused; major contributors include California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma (National Interagency Fire Center).
- A record-breaking lightning storm (July 24–28) struck Northern California with ~29,000 lightning strikes, sparking dozens of small fires in the Sierras and Cascade regions; none considered uncontrollable yet but alerts remain high (sfchronicle.com).
🧭 Summary Table
| Region | Active Fires |
|---|---|
| Arizona (U.S.) | Dragon Bravo, White Sage |
| California (U.S.) | Madre Fire |
| Utah/Washington | Forsyth Fire, Monroe Canyon, Burdoin Fire |
| Colorado (U.S.) | Elkhorn & Rim Road Fires |
| Turkey / SE Europe | Multiple fires across Turkey, Portugal, Greece, etc. |
⛳ Safety & Travel Notes
- North Rim, Grand Canyon (Arizona): Closed for 2025 season due to Dragon Bravo Fire. South Rim remains open but subject to smoke impacts and fire restrictions (AP News, Condé Nast Traveler, The Times).
- Air Quality Alerts: Parts of the U.S. Northeast, such as New York, are under smoke-related air quality warnings due to Canadian wildfires. Vulnerable populations are urged to limit outdoor activity until the weekend (nypost.com).
- Travel in Turkey and Europe: Popular tourist areas (e.g., Istanbul, Antalya, Dalaman) remain unaffected. Still, local authorities caution travellers in affected zones and advise following evacuation guidance (The Times).
