Upton 3 Fire, Texas (2026) — Map & Containment

This fire in numbersDay 1

121Hectares300Acres1Days burning

Containment25%

Started on Sep 14, 2026. 75% of the perimeter still to contain.

United States todayLive

97Active728Hotspots 48h1.4 MHectares

Last 7 days · steady

All United States wildfires

Yesterday's image: fire shows in orange and red. NASA MODIS

Red dots: heat detected by satellite in the last 48h. NASA FIRMS

Active fires nearby1 · 100 km

48KM SEBenson Fire1,395 acres · 90% contained

Within 100 kmSee on map →

Quick facts

Location: Tom Green County
Complexity: Type 5 IncidentOfficial scale from 5 to 1: a Type 1 is the most complex in the country.
What's burning: Timber (Litter and Understory)
Jurisdiction: SFS · Private land

Burning through timber with litter and understory across Tom Green, Texas, the active Upton 3 Fire has consumed 300 acres since it started on September 14, 2026. Currently managed as a Type 5 Incident by the SFS on private land, the fire is 25 percent contained.

Satellites have detected 8 heat signatures near the perimeter over the past 48 hours, illustrating the localized spread of the blaze as it burns through the timber fuels.

This incident occurs during the region's typical fire season, which runs from June to October. Nationally, wildfire activity remains below historical levels, with 3,216,925 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a 41 percent decrease compared to the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Texas for less than a day. So far it has affected roughly 300 acres — about 1.2 km². Crews have contained 25% of the perimeter, but most of the fire line is still open.

In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.