Here’s why our firefighting men and women are amazing, their willingness to work in challenging conditions in challenging areas. I’ve got a map of the Wildfire Suppression Difficulty Index (WSDI) and overlays for the 24 Fire perimeter and current satellite hotspots. You can see that firefighters are working in a highly variable environment, with several areas of significant concern. The fire perimeter overlaps a mix of moderate to extreme difficulty terrain, including multiple pockets of “extreme” WSDI shown in red. These zones represent the most challenging conditions for fire suppression, where steep terrain, dense or highly combustible fuels, and limited access combine to create an environment where direct firefighting is difficult and often hazardous. Even under standardized conditions—15 mph uphill winds and typical fuel moisture—these areas are modeled to resist suppression efforts.
The location of active hotspots reinforces this concern. Many of the thermal detections are clustered within or near the higher WSDI zones, meaning the fire is actively burning in areas where suppression is already most difficult. This alignment suggests firefighters may face slower containment progress and may need to rely more heavily on indirect tactics, such as building containment lines farther away from the fire’s edge or utilizing aerial resources. When fire behavior and suppression difficulty overlap like this, it often leads to more complex and extended firefighting operations.
Not all areas around the fire are equally challenging. Surrounding zones of moderate difficulty (shown in yellow and green) may provide better opportunities for containment due to improved access, less extreme terrain, or more manageable fuels. These areas are likely critical for anchoring firefighting efforts and preventing further spread. Overall, the WSDI highlights that while progress can be made in more favorable terrain, the presence of extreme difficulty zones within the fire area will continue to complicate suppression efforts and may prolong the timeline for full containment.
Join me in thanking all of those that are working to suppress and contain this human-caused fire.
