Magnitude 7.8 Philippines quake triggers tsunami advisory for Guam and the CNMI; NIFC holds at PL 2 with ten uncontained large fires and evacuations near Chelan
Episode 187 •
8th June 2026 • EM Morning Brief • Brian Colburn
Today’s brief leads with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the southern Philippines that prompted a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisory for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, with no threat to Hawaii or the U.S. West Coast. We cover national wildfire operations at Preparedness Level 2, including active fires threatening structures and infrastructure in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina, and Alaska, plus a multi-day Storm Prediction Center severe weather threat, two Pacific tropical depressions, a paused Kilauea eruption, and approaching FEMA assistance deadlines in Washington and Hawaii. 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
· Tsunami advisory (Guam and CNMI): A magnitude 7.8 Philippines earthquake prompted a Pacific Tsunami Warning Center advisory for hazardous currents and sea level fluctuations; effects expected from about 12:45 p.m. ChST Monday, no full-scale evacuation called.
· No threat to Hawaii or the West Coast: The Warning Center assessed no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the U.S. mainland Pacific coast.
· Wildfire posture: NIFC remains at Preparedness Level 2 with ten uncontained large fires; the Chestnut Fire near Chelan, Washington has evacuations in effect, and the Michaud Creek Fire near Pocatello, Idaho shows extreme behavior threatening structures and energy infrastructure.
· Seven Cabins Fire (New Mexico): Largest active incident at 31,870 acres, now 90 percent contained, with closures still in effect.
· Severe weather: A multi-day SPC threat spans the Northern High Plains, Central Plains, Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, with damaging wind, large hail, and isolated tornadoes possible.
· FEMA deadlines: Washington December-storm applicants have until June 10; Maui and Honolulu Kona Low applicants have until June 14.
· Kilauea: Summit eruption paused at ADVISORY; next fountaining episode forecast June 12 to 15.
A powerful undersea earthquake in the western Pacific is the lead story this morning.
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The U.S. geological Survey recorded a quake initially measured at magnitude 8.2 and later downgraded to magnitude 7.8 southwest of Bereas in the southern Philippines at 9:37am Chamorro Standard Time.
On the Wildfire front, the National Interagency Fire center holds the nation at preparedness level 2 with 10 uncontained large fires and 33 active incidents totaling roughly 122,000 acres.
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Official daily situation report published about 24 hours ago.
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NIFC forecasts widespread elevated to critical fire weather conditions across the eastern Great Basin, Southwest and Central Rockies ahead of a strong dry cold front with southwest winds gusting to 45 mile hour and relative humidity as low as 5%.
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Active incidents with structures or critical infrastructure threatened are burning in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, New Mexico, Florida, North Carolina and Alaska.
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The Storm Prediction center maintains a multi day severe weather threat across the central and eastern United States with slight and enhanced risk areas spanning the northern High Plains, Central Plains, Mississippi and Ohio valleys.
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Mid Atlantic and Northeast.
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Hazards include damaging wind, large hail and isolated tornadoes in the tropics.
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The National Hurricane center is tracking Tropical Depression Amanda well east southeast of Hawaii and Tropical Depression two E off southern Mexico.
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While no Atlantic development is expected over the next seven days in what NOAA forecasts to be a below normal season at Kilauea, USGS reports the summit eruption is paused at volcano alert level advisory with the next fountaining episode forecast between June 12 and 15.
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Let's run through the states.
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Alaska the Kapshusut fire one mile west of Ambler in the Galena zone has burned 1,467 acres at 20% containment with moderate fire behavior.
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Numerous structures are threatened and area road and trail closures remain in effect.
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California the Waltz Fire near Cathy's Valley in the Madera Mariposa Merced unit stands at 1,644 acres and 51% containment with minimal fire behavior.
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Energy infrastructure is threatened.
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Full containment is estimated by June 9.
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Florida the 340 Fire in the National Forests in Florida about 26 miles southwest of Tallahassee has burned 3,400 acres at 50% containment with structures threatened and road closures in effect.
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The Shell Fire west of DeLand holds at 2,822 acres and 70% containment.
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Hawaii Kilauea remains at volcano alert level advisory with the Summit eruption paused.
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The next lava fountaining episode is forecast for June 12 to 15.
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Separately, the FEMA deadline to apply for individual assistance from the March Kona Lo flooding in Maui and Honolulu counties is June 14th.
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e Fort Hall Agency has burned:
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Structures and energy infrastructure are threatened.
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The nearby Summit Creek fire southeast of Oakley is largely contained at 93%.
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Minnesota NIFC reports elevated fire weather conditions developing across northern Minnesota, where breezy south winds and low humidity follow a week of little rainfall.
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New Mexico the Seven Cabins Fire on the Lincoln National Forest 13 miles northeast of Capitan has burned 31,870 acres and is 90% contained with minimal smoldering fire behavior.
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Numerous structures remain threatened and area road and trail closures stay in effect.
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NORTH Carolina the Rose bay Canal Fire, 10 miles southwest of Fairfield has burned 373 acres at 20% containment with active running fire behavior in timber.
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the Vail district has burned:
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Structures and energy infrastructure are threatened and area and road closures are in effect.
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Washington the Chestnut Fire, four miles south of Chilin in the southeast region of Washington, DNR has burned 3,000 acres at 20% containment with active wind driven fire behavior.
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Critical infrastructure is threatened and evacuations are in effect.
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Separately, the FEMA deadline to apply for federal assistance from the December storms and flooding is June 10th.
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All other states have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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Territories Guam, Homeland Security and the Office of Civil Defense report A tsunami advisory remains in effect issued by the Pacific Tsunami Warning center after the magnitude 7.8 Philippines earthquake.
Residents are urged to stay out of the water and away from beaches and coastal areas.
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No full scale evacuation is called for at this time.
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NORTHERN MARIANA Islands the Commonwealth is under the same Pacific Tsunami Warning center advisory as Guam, with a potential threat of hazardous currents and sea level fluctuations along beaches, in harbors and in coastal waters.
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Rota, Tinian and Saipan are included in the advisory area.
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All other territories in the District of Columbia have no significant updates in the last 24 hours.
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That wraps today's EM Morning Brief.
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