Rain = Relief, but Fire Restrictions Stay

What does level 5 mean?

At level 5, national resources are already committed to fighting fires around the country. “The fire hazard is at its greatest, and the resources are at their most strained level,” Peter Sunderland, professor of fire protection engineering at the University of Maryland, told Time magazine. “If there are existing fires, they won’t pull anybody off those fires. But as new fires arise, the state managers can’t expect the same level of service that they’d get at level one through four. In other words, they may say we just can’t help with that new fire.”

That presents a new challenge, since fires are easier to put out in the first few hours after they start, a period of time known as the “initial attack.” “[Firefighters] try to get helicopters and crews on as soon as possible, so that way it doesn’t become a big fire,” Sunderland said in Time. “Once it becomes bigger and larger, it takes a lot more resources to contain that fire, and it takes a lot more time.”

Why conditions remain serious

This past winter was the second-warmest in U.S. history, with 19 states—including Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas—all experiencing one of their 10 driest winters on record, according to NOAA.

About 80% of Wyoming is in severe drought or worse—45% is suffering extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

This year has already set a record for the number of fires. So far in 2026, the U.S. has seen 41,779 fires—the most one season has seen in the last 10 years.

Even though the recent rain might make it less likely that a fire starts on the BTNF—note that fire danger across the BTNF was still rated as “high” as of August 14—if a new fire starts, federal agencies might not have enough resources to address it.

That is why Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in place: it is not worth the risk.