The National Interagency Fire Center is holding the nation at Preparedness Level 3, with 45 large fires uncontained nationwide. Year-to-date, 35,247 fires have burned over 2.9 million acres. The Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies face above-normal fire potential through July.

The Lyle Hill Fire ignited Sunday afternoon along the Columbia River in Klickitat County, growing to 1,500 acres within hours and triggering Level 3 'Go Now' evacuations. A Red Cross shelter is open at Columbia High School in White Salmon.

The Upriver Fire near Spokane burned 213 acres before being contained, but not before destroying 14 primary structures and killing one person. The human-caused fire was wind-driven into a residential area during dangerous Red Flag conditions.

Red Flag Warnings are persisting across Eastern Washington as a dangerous heat wave builds ahead of July 4th. Wind gusts of 30–45 mph and humidity as low as 10–20% are creating extreme fire spread conditions across the Columbia Basin, Okanogan Valley, and Spokane area.

Washington is battling four large wildfires simultaneously in an early and dangerous 2026 fire season. The Tule Road Fire (24,087 acres), Kartar Fire (11,746 acres), Garred Road Fire (500 acres), and Lyle Hill Fire (1,500 acres) are all burning across the eastern half of the state.

Utah's Cottonwood Fire has exploded to over 92,000 acres with 0% containment, making it the largest active wildfire in the United States and a potential draw on national firefighting resources that could affect Pacific Northwest response capacity.

Smoke from the Peterson Fire in Klickitat County and other Eastern Washington blazes is affecting air quality across the region, with health officials urging sensitive populations to limit outdoor exposure as July Fourth approaches.

Red Flag Warnings covering large portions of Eastern Washington reflect a dangerous combination of gusty winds, critically low humidity, and unusually dry fuels for late June — setting the stage for rapid fire spread with any new ignition.

BLM statewide fire restrictions are in effect across all public lands in Oregon and Washington, with additional restrictions from the Washington DNR, North Cascades NPS, and multiple counties — all timed ahead of the high-risk July Fourth holiday weekend.

NIFC has declared National Preparedness Level 3 as 37 large fires burn nationwide and over 2.9 million acres have been lost so far in 2026 — a pace well above last year and the 10-year average.

Idaho's Shingle Creek Fire is burning 614 acres near Riggins as the state enters its most dangerous fire months. NIFC lists Idaho among states with large active fires as national resources are stretched across the West.

Bipartisan legislation including the Wildland Firefighter Hazard Pay Correction Act and the Support Our Firefighters Act are advancing in Congress as the 2026 fire season intensifies — addressing longstanding pay and retention issues for federal firefighters.

Two Washington wildfires — the Peterson Fire in Klickitat County and the Garred Road Fire near Coulee City — triggered Level 3 "Go Now" evacuations before containment efforts allowed orders to be rescinded or downgraded.

Eastern Washington is experiencing an elevated fire season with several large fires burning across the region, including the 24,180-acre Tule Road Fire south of Yakima and the now-contained Garred Road Fire near Coulee City.

Air quality across the Pacific Northwest is currently good, but smoke season is approaching fast. Health agencies are urging residents to prepare for smoke impacts as fire season intensifies through July and August.

Central Oregon fire agencies are responding to early-season ignitions with fire restrictions already in place across public lands. Hot, dry, and drought-stressed conditions are raising the stakes for any new spark.

The Cottonwood Fire in Utah has grown to over 70,000 acres, becoming the nation's largest active wildfire and what Governor Cox calls the most destructive in state history. FEMA has declared it a major disaster.

Multiple wildfires broke out along a railroad corridor between Pocatello and Inkom on June 21, prompting evacuations and road closures. Idaho faces above-normal fire risk beginning in July.

NIFC has raised the national fire preparedness level to 3 as 37 large fires burn across the West. Over 6,700 firefighters are deployed nationwide, and 2.7 million acres have burned in 2026 to date.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has declared a wildfire state of emergency as state fire officials warn that Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Northern California will all compete for limited firefighting resources during what could be a record-breaking 2026 fire season.