BOISE, Idaho — The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 20,245 firefighters and support personnel are currently assigned to wildfire incidents across the United States, with the Pacific Northwest absorbing a disproportionately large share of the nation's available fire suppression capacity. The scale of the 2026 response reflects a fire season that is running at 126% of the 10-year average for number of fires and 163% of average for acres burned.

International Firefighters in Washington

In an increasingly common practice during large-fire emergencies, the United States has called on international allies for firefighting support. Firefighters from New Zealand and Australia are among the thousands of personnel assigned to the Little Giant Fire complex in Chelan and Okanogan counties — the second-highest priority fire in the nation at its peak.

These international crews, deployed through bilateral emergency management agreements, bring specialized skills in large-fire suppression and are integrated directly into incident command structures. Australia and New Zealand share fire season timing with the Northern Hemisphere (their summer runs October–March), allowing personnel to assist U.S. operations during their off-season.

National Guard and Active Military

The Washington National Guard and active-duty U.S. Army soldiers have been deployed to multiple fire incidents across the state. At the Little Giant Fire, Guard members have assisted with hand line construction, structure protection, and logistics. At the Sisi Fire near Stehekin, active-duty soldiers are supporting preparation work on the eastern side of the community, protecting homes, the airport, and the town's hydropower infrastructure.

Military support to civilian wildfire operations is coordinated through Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mechanisms and requires requests from state emergency management agencies. The volume of such requests in 2026 underscores the extent to which federal fire agencies have been stretched beyond their own capacity.

Preparedness Levels Signal Nationwide Strain

The National Preparedness Level has been at Level 5 — the maximum — since July 18, 2026, meaning all national fire suppression resources are committed or available for immediate dispatch. This is one of the longest sustained periods at maximum preparedness in recent memory.

The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center (NWCC) is operating at Preparedness Level 4. Nationally, five new large fires were identified on September 1 alone, adding further pressure to an already-strained system.

Aircraft Operations

Aviation resources — including helicopters, airtankers, and single-engine air tankers (SEATs) — are deployed across the Pacific Northwest for water drops, reconnaissance, and aerial supervision. Residents near active fire areas are reminded:

  • Do not operate drones near active fires or TFR boundaries — firefighting aircraft cannot operate safely when drones are present
  • Watercraft should remain near shore and clear of areas where helicopters are scooping water from lakes and rivers

Where Resources Are Going

With 38 of the nation's 84 large fires burning in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, the Pacific Northwest is the dominant draw on national fire resources. Incident management teams, both Type 1 and Type 2, are managing multiple fires simultaneously — a common but demanding configuration. California Interagency Management Teams are supporting Washington fire operations, reflecting the national pooling of management resources that occurs at high preparedness levels.