The episode elucidates the current status of wildland fire activity, emphasizing that the Southern Area is operating at Preparedness Level 3, with numerous large fires threatening structures and residences across multiple states. We provide a comprehensive overview of significant incidents, including those in Alabama, Colorado, and Florida, where extreme fire behavior has been reported, leading to considerable risks to nearby communities. The discussion also includes pertinent advisories from CISA regarding cybersecurity vulnerabilities that necessitate immediate action to mitigate risks. Furthermore, we touch upon recent seismic events, such as the magnitude 7.6 earthquake near Tonga, which, while not resulting in a tsunami threat, underscores the importance of situational awareness in the Pacific Ring of Fire. We conclude with an examination of public health concerns, specifically a meningococcal disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the need for vigilance in travel advisories.

Takeaways:

1. The Southern Area Preparedness Level has reached a critical status of Level 3 due to numerous large wildfires threatening structures and residences.
2. A recent advisory from CISA emphasizes the urgent need to mitigate critical risks associated with unauthenticated command execution on commercial control systems.
3. The Pacific Ring of Fire remains a significant focus of attention following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake in Tonga, despite no tsunami threat being reported.
4. The CDC has issued a travel notice regarding an outbreak of meningococcal disease in a health zone of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, underscoring the importance of public health awareness.
5. Numerous states are currently experiencing substantial fire activity, with reports indicating active fire behavior and threats to both structures and residences.
6. The FAA has provided updates on potential thunderstorms affecting air traffic in central Florida, highlighting the need for vigilance in aviation safety.

Sources

DHS

1. DHS News Release — Senate confirms Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary (Mar 24, 2026)
2. DHS Newsroom — “There are no current advisories” (NTAS status shown on DHS newsroom pages)

CISA

1. CISA ICS Advisory — Pharos Controls Mosaic Show Controller vulnerability (Published Mar 24, 2026)
2. CISA ICS Advisory — Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS vulnerability (Published Mar 24, 2026)
3. CISA ICS Advisory — Grassroots DICOM memory leak vulnerability (Published Mar 24, 2026)

Wildland fire activity (NIFC/NICC)

1. NIFC/NICC Incident Management Situation Report (IMSR) — PDF (Published Mar 24, 2026)

Aviation

1. FAA — Statement on Air Canada Express incident at LaGuardia (Mar 23, 2026)
2. NTSB — Investigation page: Air Canada Express Flight 8646 collides with fire truck at LGA (Event date Mar 22, 2026; includes media briefings)
3. FAA — Daily Air Traffic Report (Mar 24, 2026)

Earthquake and tsunami messaging

1. USGS — Event page: M7.6, 153 km W of Neiafu, Tonga (Reviewed)
2. Reuters — No tsunami threat after deep M7.6 near Tonga (Mar 24, 2026)

Public health

1. CDC — Travel Health Notices: Meningococcal Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Mar 24, 2026)

Good morning.

I'm Cedric and This is your EM

Wildland fire activity remains elevated in the

Southern Area Preparedness Level 3 with numerous large fires reporting, structures, residences threatened, and

a mix of active to minimal fire

behavior across multiple states.

National incident totals and large fire activity

are reflected in today's NANICC Incident Management Situation Report.

CISA posts multiple new ics advisories dated

March 24 with mitigation guidance.

One advisory highlights a critical unauthenticated root

command execution risk on a commercial facilities device and recommends upgrading firmware and reducing Internet exposure of control system assets.

Earthquake International Awareness USGS posts A reviewed

magnitude 7.6 earthquake west of Nyafu, Tonga.

Reporting indicates no tsunami threat due to depth, but it remains a notable Pacific Ring of Fire event for situational awareness.

Public Health Travel Facing CDC posts a

new travel notice dated March 24 for a meningococcal disease outbreak in a specific health zone of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Let's run through the states.

Alabama FC NICC IMSR lists the South

Sandy Fire national forests in Alabama with structures threatened and moderate fire behavior.

Colorado NIFC IMSR lists the Fort Carson

Army Base incident with extreme fire behavior and residences threatened.

Florida NIFC NICC IMSR lists multiple incidents including Baker Bead.

Florida Forest Service with numerous residences threatened and USFS incidents.

Mill Pond139 with active behavior noted.

FAA's daily air traffic report also flags

thunderstorms that could affect flights in central Florida.

Georgian IFCNICC IMSR lists the Polk Treat Mountain Fire.

Georgia Forestry Commission with structures threatened and moderate fire behavior.

Kentucky NIFCC IMSR lists the Rattlesnake Cliff

Fire with active fire behavior and spotting reported.

Louisiana NIFC IMSR list the Sunset Fire.

Louisiana Office of Forestry with mapping acreage adjustments noted.

Nebraska NIFCC IMSR lists incidents including Morrell

and Cottonwood with numerous residences threatened and area road trail closures noted in the report narrative.

New York FAA issues a statement on

collision at LaGuardia, and the NTSB investigation page provides the preliminary incident description plus media briefing links.

North Carolina C NICC IMSR lists the

Tarquillne Ridge Fire national forests in North Carolina with moderate fire behavior noted.

Oklahoma NIFC IMSR lists numerous Oklahoma incidents

including Luna Branch, Oxbow, Old Kentucky, Pumpkin Hollow, Cross Timber, Sunshine Hollow and others.

The report notes structures, residences, threatened and active fire behavior on several incidents.

South Carolina NIFC IMSR lists the Woodlawn

Fire, Francis Marion and Sumter NF with limited new information in the current report

cycle, SD NICS IMSR lists the quarry

incident with closures in effect and additional South Dakota incidents with active behavior noted.

All other states have no significant updates

in the last 24 hours.

That's your EM morning brief for Wednesday,

the 25th of March.

Stay safe.