Mp18 Fire (CA)

Spanning 1,500 acres just two miles north of Hoopa, California, in Humboldt County, the active Mp18 Fire has maintained a steady expansion of approximately 500 acres per day since it began on August 7, 2026. Over the course of three days burning in federal timber, grass, and understory, the human-caused fire has triggered 17 satellite heat detections within the last 48 hours, highlighting the ongoing spread of the front. Currently 10% contained, the blaze exhibits extreme and crowning fire behavior.

A Type 3 Incident management team has deployed 295 personnel to battle the fire, accumulating costs of $500,000 under the direction of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to October. Nationally, the broader context shows 2,761,076 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a figure 50% below the two-decade average.