The American fire ledger — level 3 held, active fires eased

National Preparedness Level 3 holds with 50 uncontained large fires, down from 56, and 2 new large fires; more than 12,000 personnel are assigned. The year-to-date totals keep creeping regardless: 56,289 fires and 8,523,213 acres, which is 126 percent and 146 percent of the ten-year average. Active count down, season total up — two true sentences about the same ledger.

22 turning points on record since Jul 24 — the 8 most recent shown.