Senators Padilla, Bennet, and Schiff are raising alarms as 2026 federal fire suppression spending approaches $6 billion — nearly exhausting the entire budget — while Oregon approved $108 million in emergency state funds to cover ODF's fire costs.

Wildfire smoke blanketed the Pacific Northwest repeatedly during the 2026 season, with eastern Oregon and Washington seeing the worst air quality impacts. An arriving Pacific front is expected to bring relief — but residents should prepare for future smoke seasons.

Washington State's 2026 wildfire season saw 20 fires burn 413,000+ acres, including the catastrophic Spokane Complex. As the season winds down, state officials are turning to recovery, after-action review, and expanded 2027 mitigation investments.

Two months after the Spokane Complex Fire burned 7,700+ acres and destroyed 600+ structures in August, the Spokane area is deep in recovery — with the city now partnering with firms to help residents navigate rebuilding.

The 2026 wildfire season has burned over 9 million acres nationally through early October — 145% of the 10-year average — with 8 large fires still active and 3,123 personnel still deployed.

Air quality across the Pacific Northwest is improving with the arrival of fall rains, but 2026 ranks among the worst years for wildfire smoke exposure in two decades. Public health officials urge continued vigilance as prescribed burns and residual fire activity may add localized smoke in the coming weeks.

Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking restoration of $4.8 million in prescribed fire funding after the 2025-27 budget slashed the program by 80%—from $6M to $1.2M per biennium—just as the 2026 fire season devastated the Pacific Northwest. The agency points to the Sinlahekin Wildfire as proof that prescribed burns work.

The High Lava Fire in Skamania County, Washington has reached 95% containment across 2,899 acres, with crews completing final mop-up operations as an incoming cold front brings rain expected to extinguish remaining heat sources and push the fire to full containment.

A major cold front is bringing rain and mountain snow to Pacific Northwest fire lines this weekend, expected to significantly moderate fire activity across Washington and Oregon. Winds gusting to 50 mph ahead of the front are creating a brief critical fire weather window in Montana and Wyoming before cooler, wetter conditions arrive.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is planning fall prescribed burns on up to 14,026 acres across six central Washington ranger districts, while WDFW prepares burns at three Okanogan County wildlife area units. Officials say proactive fuels treatment is critical after the record 2026 fire season.

Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season closed as the worst in state history—approximately 2.1 million acres burned and $1.4 billion spent on suppression. The Big Grass Fire, at 578,637 acres, became the largest wildfire in modern Oregon history, driving urgent calls for increased prevention funding ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

The 2026 wildfire season has become one of the most destructive in U.S. history, with 63,681 fires burning more than 9 million acres through October 9—145% of the 10-year average. Eight large fires remain active nationally, with the Southern geographic area facing continued elevated fire potential into early 2027.

Five active wildfires are still burning across more than 19,500 acres in Idaho as of early October, including the Upper Smith and Silver fires in Boundary County—where residences remain threatened—and the Cascade Fire in Idaho County nearing final containment.

The lightning-caused Sisi Fire has burned 4,439 acres in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Stehekin, WA, with 29% containment. An incoming cold front with rain and mountain snow is expected to significantly moderate fire behavior this weekend.

Air quality has improved significantly across most of the PNW from the season's worst peaks, but mop-up smoke from several large fires and the launch of fall prescribed burning will create periodic localized smoke events through winter.

With 4,093 firefighters still deployed nationally and 65 crews, 119 engines, and 26 helicopters working 11 large fires, the 2026 season's suppression effort is still very much underway even as fall conditions begin bringing relief to the Pacific Northwest.

Temperatures running 5–15°F above normal and below-average humidity keep fire danger elevated across parts of the PNW this October, even as the worst of the 2026 fire season appears to be winding down. Here's what forecasters are watching.

At the peak of Washington's 2026 fire season, more than 600 structures were damaged or destroyed and hundreds of residents evacuated from Chelan and Okanogan counties as fires spread through 7,700-plus acres under extreme fire weather conditions.

Sens. Merkley and Curtis introduced bipartisan legislation to give wildland firefighter families the same up-to-$100,000 death benefit awarded to military families — prompted in part by an Oregon firefighter's death on the Austin Fire at Mt. Hood.

With 62,738 fires and more than 9 million acres burned as of early October, 2026 is shaping up as one of the most destructive wildfire seasons on record — 135% of the 10-year average fire count and 147% of average acreage.