12,965 Firefighters Deployed Nationally; Idaho Leads the Northwest with 7 Large Fires Still Burning

As the 2026 fire season enters what officials hope is its final stretch, nearly 13,000 firefighters and support personnel remain deployed to active wildfire incidents across the country. The Pacific Northwest states of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon account for a significant share of the ongoing action, with crews working in challenging terrain under demanding conditions.

National Deployment Snapshot

As of September 11, NIFC reported:

12,965 firefighters and support personnel assigned to active incidents nationwide
58 large fires currently active across 13 states
85,615 acres currently burning across all active fires
2 fires contained in the most recent reporting period

Idaho: Seven Large Active Fires

Idaho leads the Northwest with seven large active fires currently burning. Among the notable incidents is the Cascade Fire, burning on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, which has charred 7,475 acres and is 50% contained. The fire is located approximately 19 miles east of Lowell. The Nez Perce-Clearwater is reachable for incident information at 208-935-6134.

Other Idaho incidents continue to draw personnel and resources. The Silver Fire, which burned 2,593 acres, was recently dropped from active tracking as operations shifted to mop-up. Idaho's rugged mountain terrain, with steep drainages and dense timber, makes fire suppression especially challenging and resource-intensive.

Incident Management Teams

Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Management Teams (IMTs) from across the country have been deployed to Northwest fires throughout the season. The extended NPL5 period — July 18 through September 4 — strained the national IMT pool, with senators noting that teams worked more fires than is considered operationally safe and that temporary supervisory structures were required because fully qualified personnel were unavailable.

As preparedness levels ease to NPL3, some IMTs are being released from incidents, returned to readiness status, or redirected to high-priority fires that still need Type 1 management. Personnel who completed extended assignments are being given mandatory rest periods before redeployment.

Aviation Resources

Large airtankers, single-engine air tankers (SEATs), and heavy-lift helicopters have been heavily tasked throughout the season. Aviation assets have been central to initial attack operations and structure protection on multiple incidents. As fire activity moderates in the Northwest, some aircraft are being repositioned to support active fires in Wyoming, Texas, and other regions still experiencing critical conditions.

The Long View