Needles, United States - January 19, 2026 Video filmed by X user RockDoctor captures an active wildfire burning in the Topock Marsh area near Needles, California, with flames spreading on the Arizona side of the Colorado River on January 19, 2026. The short 21-second video shows thick black and gray smoke billowing from marsh vegetation, with bright orange flames and glowing hotspots amid reeds, brush, and flooded areas typical of the Colorado River wetlands. North winds of about 20 mph carry smoke horizontally, creating a hazy, ominous atmosphere under daylight conditions. The Colorado River forms a calm reflective foreground, separating California and Arizona, while dense marsh grasses and reeds border the fire line. On the distant Arizona riverbank, sparse trees, scrub, and rocky outcrops are visible, with flames intensifying in that area. No firefighters, aircraft, or ground crews appear in the clip, suggesting it was filmed during the early or mid-stage of the blaze from a safe distance. The scene highlights concern over wind-driven spread in this sensitive riparian habitat. The post notes the north wind’s role in exacerbating the fire and has drawn attention from viewers frustrated by possible mismanagement: “Someone needs to be held accountable for the stupidity of this 'controlled burn,'” reads one reply. Later updates indicate the fire continued burning into the following morning, showing its persistence in the Lower Colorado River Valley.