Welcome to the Fire Environment page. This page aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the fire environment across Tennessee. Updates will be provided weekly, at a minimum, from October 15 through May 15 to support prescribed burning operations and planning.
Updated April 20, 2026
(click Current critically dry fuel conditions, even with >40% RH, will support increased fire intensity, faster rates of spread, and greater resistance to control. Longer flame residence times and receptive fine fuels will also enhance the potential for spotting and ignition from embers.
Over the past 48 hours, rainfall across the area has been generally light and uneven, with most locations receiving less than a half inch and only isolated pockets approaching or slightly exceeding one inch. This amount of precipitation has provided some short-term relief to fine fuels, leading to brief improvements in surface fuel moisture and a reduction in immediate ignition potential. However, these totals were not sufficient to meaningfully recharge deeper fuel layers. The 100-hour and 1000-hour fuels remain critically dry, and their moisture levels have shown little to no recovery from this event.
Looking ahead, the fire environment is expected to trend back toward elevated risk through the week. With no additional rainfall forecast until the upcoming weekend—and even that system still uncertain—drying conditions will dominate. Relative humidity values are projected to drop into the low 20s across Tennessee, which will quickly remove any gains made in fine fuel moisture and reintroduce receptive burning conditions. For prescribed fire planning, this means burn windows may still exist, but they will require careful evaluation of fuel moisture stratification, particularly the persistence of dry heavy fuels and the potential for increased fire intensity and holdover heat. Until a more substantial, widespread rainfall event occurs, fire behavior will continue to be influenced by these underlying dry conditions, and caution is advised when considering ignition.
Over the past 48 hours, rainfall across the area has been generally light and uneven, with most locations receiving less than a half inch and only isolated pockets approaching or slightly exceeding one inch. This amount of precipitation has provided some short-term relief to fine fuels, leading to brief improvements in surface fuel moisture and a reduction in immediate ignition potential. However, these totals were not sufficient to meaningfully recharge deeper fuel layers. The 100-hour and 1000-hour fuels remain critically dry, and their moisture levels have shown little to no recovery from this event.
Looking ahead, the fire environment is expected to trend back toward elevated risk through the week. With no additional rainfall forecast until the upcoming weekend—and even that system still uncertain—drying conditions will dominate. Relative humidity values are projected to drop into the low 20s across Tennessee, which will quickly remove any gains made in fine fuel moisture and reintroduce receptive burning conditions. For prescribed fire planning, this means burn windows may still exist, but they will require careful evaluation of fuel moisture stratification, particularly the persistence of dry heavy fuels and the potential for increased fire intensity and holdover heat. Until a more substantial, widespread rainfall event occurs, fire behavior will continue to be influenced by these underlying dry conditions, and caution is advised when considering ignition.