National Preparedness Level 5 with 90 large fires; extreme heat grips the central U.S. and Southwest deserts

The nation holds at Preparedness Level 5 with 90 large fires and more than 25,300 personnel committed, and NIFC confirms the death of a fourth firefighter from the June 27 Knowles Fire burnover in Colorado. Oregon carries 21 large fires, with the Akawa Butte Fire the nation’s top priority and the City of Huntington ordered to evacuate. Washington’s Kaiser Canyon Fire tops 106,000 acres with Nespelem under a Go Now order, and Minnesota keeps the Boundary Waters closed through July 29. Extreme Heat Warnings cover portions of Kansas and Missouri, with heat index values to 115, plus the Southern California deserts and Las Vegas. Boil water advisories are active in Georgia and Texas, and South Carolina’s AnMed health system is managing a phone and internet outage with patient diversions. EM Morning Brief is your concise daily update on national and state-by-state emergency management news. Produced by Sitch Radio, an EOC Voices podcast.Key Takeaways• National wildfire posture: The nation remains at Preparedness Level 5 with 90 large fires, 10 new incidents, and more than 25,300 personnel committed; NIFC confirms the death of Rifle Helitack firefighter Nathan Matthews from Knowles Fire burnover injuries.• Oregon: 21 large fires across 331,063 acres; Akawa Butte is the nation’s top priority fire with Level 1 to 3 evacuations in three counties, and the City of Huntington was ordered to evacuate Sunday.• Washington: Kaiser Canyon Fire tops 106,000 acres on the Colville Reservation with Nespelem under a Level 3 Go Now order; roughly 20 structures destroyed and 800 threatened.• Minnesota: The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness stays closed through July 29 with a GO evacuation on the Fernberg corridor; about 68,851 acres burned.• Extreme heat: Heat index values to 115 in Kansas and Missouri through Tuesday morning; Extreme Heat Warnings also cover the Southern California deserts and Las Vegas through Monday evening.• Lifelines: AnMed hospitals in South Carolina are diverting some patients during a systemwide phone and internet outage; boil water advisories are active in Ellijay and Effingham County, Georgia, and south Nacogdoches, Texas; thousands lost power in the Sioux Falls area after Saturday night storms.• Tropics: The National Hurricane Center expects no Atlantic tropical cyclone development over the next seven days.SponsorsThe NIMS Store - https://thenimsstore.com/Descript, Edit video by editing text - https://link.bcolburn.com/DB-DescriptESET, Cyber Security Progress. Protected. - https://refer.eset.com/hip7rSourcesNIFC and National Wildfire• NIFC National Fire News: July 26, 2026 daily report: PL 5, 90 large fires, personnel, state fire tables, firefighter fatality• NIFC Incident Management Situation Report: Sunday, July 26, 2026NOAA, NWS, and NHC• NHC Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook: no Atlantic development expected over the next 7 days• NWS Kansas City via ABC17: Extreme Heat Warning until July 28, heat index to 113• NWS Springfield via ABC17: Extreme Heat Warning until July 28, heat index to 115DHS• National Terrorism Advisory System: no current advisories listedCalifornia• CAL FIRE: Biscar Fire incident page• 2news.com: Biscar Fire jumps in containment, some evacuation orders lifted• KOLO: Cinder Complex, Rock Fire acreage held steady into Sunday• NWS San Diego via KESQ: Extreme Heat Warning through July 27 for Coachella Valley and county desertsColorado• Craig Daily Press: Keystone Fire holds at 3,024 acres as crews strengthen containment linesGeorgia• Atlanta News First: Part of Ellijay under boil water advisory• WTOC: 24-hour boil water advisory issued in Effingham County neighborhoodsMinnesota• WTIP: Live updates: wildfires and response across Superior National Forest and BWCAW• U.S. Forest Service: Superior NF wildfires fact sheet• Quetico Superior Foundation: Wildfires burn approximately 68,000 acres in the Superior National Forest and BWCANevada• NWS Las Vegas via KESQ: Extreme Heat Warning through July 27Oregon• KPTV: Wildfire updates July 26: Grasshopper Fire tops 9,500 acres, City of Huntington ordered to evacuate, Hwy 26 reopens• Central Oregon Fire Information: Akawa Butte Fire, July 26, 2026South Carolina• Fox Carolina: AnMed phone and internet outage impacting all hospital locations, ERs remain openSouth Dakota• Dakota News Now: Reports of power outages, trees down after powerful stormTexas• KETK: Boil water notice issued for south Nacogdoches after water line breakWashington• FOX 13 Seattle: Here’s where fires in Washington state are burning• KIRO 7: Washington state wildfires growing in size, forcing evacuations• <a href="https://columbiabasinherald.com/news/2026/jul/26/level-3-evacuation-notices-issued-for-fire-northwest-of-quincy/?utm_source=em-morning-brief" rel="noopener...