Update: Ben Fire in Imperial County – May 17 status

Published May 17, 2026 #Ben fire

Updated: 10:24 a.m. May 17

First discovered: 5 days ago, 5:38 p.m. May 12

Initial location: Imperial County, Calif.

Fire type: Wildfire

Fire name: Ben

Ben Fire initially started 5:38 p.m. May 12 at in Imperial County, California.

It has been burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management for five days. There is no information on the containment of the fire and its cause has not yet been determined.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center