06/17/2026
Wildfire season (and monsoon season, but more on that later) is part of living and traveling in the American West, and it’s something we take seriously at BaseCamp37.
When guests ask us about smoke, nearby fires, or changing conditions, we’re not taking any guesses on the details.
We’re actively monitoring the situation every day using resources like Watch Duty, InciWeb, and the U.S. Wildfire ArcGIS maps to track fire activity, thermal hotspots, containment updates, and even aircraft operations.
If you’ve never used before, it’s one of the best wildfire awareness tools available. You can follow active incidents, see evacuation zones, track firefighting aircraft, and receive real-time updates as conditions change.
A few tips if you’re traveling in the West this summer:
🔥 Download Watch Duty before your trip.
🔥 Check air quality in addition to fire location. Smoke can travel long distances depending on weather and wind patterns.
🔥 Rely on official sources for updates rather than social media rumors.
🔥 Don’t assume a visible smoke plume means your plans are impacted. Many fires remain far from recreation areas, communities, and travel corridors.
The reality is that not every fire impacts travel, air quality, or recreation opportunities. Sometimes a dramatic smoke plume on the horizon looks far more concerning than the actual risk to visitors. That’s why we rely on data, official reporting, and local knowledge rather than speculation.
Whether you’re joining us next week or later this season, know that we’re paying attention so you don’t have to spend your vacation refreshing fire maps.
We’ll keep watching. We’ll keep communicating. And if conditions ever require changes to plans, you’ll hear it from us first.
📍 Photo taken by this week as crews continue responding to the Rock Canyon Fire.